Disappoints ...

Rating: 7/10 (4 August 2002)

This could have really been a landmark, but unfortunately it falls short. It's reasonably well acted, and Smith has obviously put much work into his portrayal, but it just doesn't quite make it for me.
It's hard to put a finger on it -- perhaps its the fact that Smith isn't quite there in physical resemblance to Ali, perhaps its the reminders that you get of the When We Were Kings film, perhaps its the likes of van Peebles not being convincing as Malcolm X.
Also, perhaps its the fact that it concentrates too much on the bouts themselves and the boxing action, rather than developing some of the characters who stay on the periphery.
This was OK, good even. But it could have been special.