Ali (2001)Directed by Michael MannDoomsy’s Rating: 81/100“You only know what it is to wi

Ali (2001)Directed by Michael MannDoomsy’s Rating: 81/100“You only know what it is to win when you’ve got everything to lose…”Will Smith plays the true rebel of the 20th century as a man unafraid, but just that—a man. The enigma around his legend, his larger-than-life status, it all means nothing without a real human being at its center. Mann’s camera work here is impeccable as always. The opening fight sequence alone is pure, ultra-fluid Mann, creating silence in the air of the roaring crowds and calling immediate attention the galvanizing fight choreography, which is swift, balletic, and brutal, just as it should be. Boxing has never felt so raw and real on film, partly because every punch is more than just a punch but a blow to the establishment. The most important thing about doing Ali’s life justice is to avoid focusing on any one area. An extraordinary life is a series of meaningful vignettes, all filmed like fragmented images in a dream. Mann decides to forgo any narrative or biopic convention for an episodic series of events that shaped not only Ali but the world we live in today. Smith’s performance is staggering, completely disappearing into the role of a lifetime. The rest of the cast is duly committed, especially Jon Voight, giving one of the decade’s most impressive physical transformations as Howard Cosell. It must be said, I’m starting to become fairly convinced this is one of the best biopics of the 2000s and one of Michael Mann’s finest visual achievements. -- source link

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