Ali
Starring: Will Smith, Jon Voight, Jamie Foxx, Mario Van Peebles, Jada Pinkett Smith
Directed By: Michael Mann

Much has been made of the problems involved in making this feature on one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammed Ali. From the budget problems to even the casting of Will Smith, everything has been analyzed. What can be said of Ali though is that it makes a valiant effort at being a great movie, but unfortunately falters. Michael Mann has directed some amazing movies like The Insider and Heat, but his latest seems…like a wasted opportunity. It’s weaknesses lie in many points, it is overly long, clocking in at a whopping 2 hours and 47 minutes. This may be because although Ali was an interesting person, Mann wanted to show so much in so little time. Another problem with Ali, that really isn’t the film’s fault, is that you have absolutely no compassion for the man. He is a womanizer and all the problems that fall upon him, he causes. There are some positives to the film though. The most noticeable of course is Will Smith. He is spectacular as Ali, and this film will likely garner him some kudos come awards season. Another aspect of the film that is spectacular is the cinematography (as is usual in all of Mann’s movies). The boxing matches brings you right into the action, and are stupendously filmed. If you cut Ali’s running time in half, take out some of the unnecessary aspects of the film so to speak, you’ve got yourself a quality film, but unfortunately this version falls flat on it’s face. C