Even an interesting movie for people who aren't a big fan of boxing

Rating: 8/10 (10 April 2005)

I know that biopics aren't exactly very popular by most viewers and sometimes I can easily understand why that is. But some of them are certainly worth a watch and "Ali" is one of them. As you probably already know this movie is based on the life of Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali. The name on itself already rings a bell of course and I guess this is a must see for everybody who loves boxing, but even when you are not a fan of this sport, I'm convinced it has several interesting things to offer. I'll give you a few examples why I think this movie is worth watching.
First: The fact that there can be no doubt that Ali was one of the greatest and most colorful boxers, even sportsmen, ever and that this movie really gives a good idea of what kind of a man he was, in the boxing ring as well as in his private life.
Second: The acting in this movie is of an outstanding quality. Will Smith must have studied Ali for quite some time, because he really resembles him in the way he talks, acts and moves.
Third: This isn't just a movie about boxing. Sure, the boxing is a part of it and it all looks very realistic (Ali's fights have been recreated in a very good way), but it also gives an historically correct idea of what the sixties were like in the USA (religion, politics, the Vietnam war,...) and Zaire, where he fought his famous fight against George Foreman, called 'the Rumble in the Jungle'.
All in all this was a very interesting movie that I would recommend to everybody, not only to boxing fans. I'm not a big boxing fan either, but I sure loved this movie. I've always found Ali an intriguing man and that's why I watched this movie, not because of the boxing scenes. Anyway, I give it at least a 7.5/10, maybe even an 8/10.