Biopics can usually, and mostly do, end up being romanticised pieces of trash that are so far from the truth and often depict the intended characters life as flawless, as the hero that did no wrong. Boxing movies mostly end up being flops, all corn and gung-ho (talking mainly about Rocky 2 onwards and Play it to the Bone). Okay there are a few gems out there like Raging Bull and the first Rocky movie. The Hurricane fell into both categories, and while being quite a good movie still managed to fall into the unbelievable. Now Michael Mann has taken on the motherlode of biopics, Ali, and its damn good!
What makes it work so well is the way he has broken the trend of trying to cram the entire life story to date into the space of a few hours. What Mann has done is focus on a particular section of Muhammad Ali�s life. The movie kicks off with the build up to Ali�s first fight with Sonny Liston throwing you right into the action, which is brutally matter-of-fact and enthralling. We then follow the as named then Cassius Clay through life as the new champ and his everyday routine. We get a rather detailed insight into Ali�s relationship with Malcom X, and how he was influenced with the Muslim religion to change his name to Cassius X, then the name he was given, Muhammad Ali.
The main portion of the movie deals with Ali and his fight to keep his championship status and boxing license, and freedom after refusing to enrol in the army in the midst of the Vietnam War. We also see how Ali�s personality was so strong, how single minded and decisive he was never fearing the consequences, the same going for his endless womanising. We see that this incredible human being had his flaws and weaknesses as well as his courage and passion for what he believes in. The movie culminates with the legendary �Rumble in the Jungle� fight, with Ali regaining his title at the age of 32 against the seemingly unstoppable monster George Foreman, perhaps the most thrilling and emotional climax to any movie I have seen in recent years.
The performances by all are superb, each playing their respected character with passion and total believability. Jon Voight and Mario Van Peebles give incredible performances and have great onscreen chemistry with Will Smith, who without doubt has poured his heart and soul into this role, he fully deserves his Oscar nomination and I think the award itself. The movie has a certain authenticity to it, the filming and tone suggest a documentary feel like it was filmed in that time, with a superb soundtrack containing both music of the time and new tracks, it works beautifully. This has gone to the top of my �movie of the year� and I can�t see anything else with enough punch to knock it off. I had to squeeze a boxing pun in there didn�t I? |
