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By: sooz
Date: 12/21/01 5:46:59 AM
# Replies: 8
Richie's job at the radio station got us tickets to the premier of Ali last night.
Mohammed Ali himself has said that this film was done just right, from his point of view. He's glad he was played by Will Smith -- who buffed up INCREDIBLY for this role. I'm not sure how they made Smith's face more square to look like Ali's, but it worked... also, I'm pretty certain they pinned Smith's ears back for the movie, because that guy's usually got two open car doors on the side of his head. Will Smith also did a fabulous job of mimicking Ali's voice.
I'm not sure exactly how long the flick was, but really, how do you sum up a guy like Ali in a couple of hours? The movie didn't cover any of his background -- it opens with him already fighting. It ends after his second world championship (no spoilers here, as Ali's boxing record is well-known). It mostly just covers his boxing during that time, his court battle about the draft, a few of his marriages, his struggles with the Nation of Islam, and his friendship with Howard Cosell.
What it doesn't cover is his relationship with his daughter(s?), his early life, his third world championship, his retirement, his Parkinson's disease... I left there with more questions about him than I had before. Again, though, a guy like that can't just be sewed up in a couple hours.
Comedian Jamie Foxx plays a hilarious assistant to Ali -- Moudini, I believe. "On a scale of 1 to 10, that woman... well, I've never had a 10. But I had me five real good 2s!" Smith's real-life wife (oh geez, I've forgotten her name) plays one of Ali's wives, as does Michael Michele, also known for her role of Clio Finch on "ER." Whoever played Howard Cosell and Don King were as close to dead-on as they could be.
I'd give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
Response #1
By: bob
Date: 12/21/01 10:46:01 AM
for more answers you have to wait for ali II, the thrilla in manilla
Response #2
By: WitchHazel
Date: 12/21/01 1:26:43 PM
Woo! I'm SO jazzed to see this movie. You just made me more anxious. Doesn't it open on Christmas Day?
Will Smith is an incredible actor (I don't care what ANYONE says about him - I ain't changin' my mind!) and the trailers I have seen for ALI have had him looking FIIIIIINE.
Response #3
By: sooz
Date: 12/21/01 2:50:32 PM
He is, indeed, fine in this thing.
Also, the movie didn't whitewash Ali. The guy was a weasel in a lot of ways (especially with women), and was often clueless about what was going on around him. The film is honest, apparently, about all those things.
And Will Smith buff. Yum.
Response #4
By: WitchHazel
Date: 12/21/01 3:56:46 PM
For a minute, during the trailer, I thought I must be seein' things -- his muscles MUST be fake. I mean, he is BUFFED! Duuude. YUM.
Response #5
By: Da Sissop
Date: 12/22/01 6:21:36 AM
Will SMITH? Awww man, I thought they said Ali was gonna be played by Wil WHEATON.
* * * * Read^h^h^h^hWatch More About It! * * * *
If you enjoyed "Ali" then you might also enjoy a documentary called "When We Were Kings"
Response #6
By: WitchHazel
Date: 12/22/01 8:48:07 AM
Ahahahaha! Duude. You kill me. Wil Wheaton is a pretty boy from Beverly Hills. Couldn't pass for Ali even with all the make-up in Hollywood! Sorry, Siss... heh.
When We Were Kings RULES!
Response #7
By: sooz
Date: 12/22/01 6:18:04 PM
ALlegedly, Smith trained/pumped up for two years prior to filming this thing. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Response #8
By: WitchHazel
Date: 12/22/01 11:25:29 PM
Now THAT'S dedication to your job.
Mmmmmm. Hmmmmmm.