Ali

Michael Mann's films are often some of the most beautifully photographed films of the year. Ali is no exception. Mann's style (extremely wide shots of soft focusing) is readily apparent in every frame of his ambitious film about the legendary boxer. Mann has taken on an extremely difficult subject to film and has dutifully attempted to bring it justice to the big screen. In his efforts he did something that even the best filmmakers (a club in which Mann is definitely a member) do: they tried too much. Ali is a good film, but it had greatness that was screaming to be seen.

Being a technically proficient piece of work just isn't enough. Sure, the boxing scenes are shot with an arresting intensity, but I felt that the film hit a wall each time a boxing match started. It's as if the film has two distinctly different flavors: the intense boxing film and the contemplative personal discovery vehicle. It's hard to interrelate themes that vary as much, but Mann would be the one to be able to do it especially well. Unfortunately he just couldn't reach my sky-high expectations.

Will Smith does an excellent job of portraying the famous entertainer. His physical transformation is nothing short of spectacular, and its the kind of devotion that makes an audience stand up and notice. Smith's performance is truly great; he does a magnificent job of emoting the way you'd expect Cassius Clay would. You could sense that Smith was ready to jump out of the screen and show you what he's got, but he's never really given the chance. The script simply doesn't allow Smith to be as emphatic as you wish he would be. I don't blame Will Smith at all, he's great. It's the script which could have used some doctoring.

The script chooses to concern itself with the events between the end of Ali's relationship with Malcolm X and the "Thrilla in Manilla" - perhaps the most influential boxing match ever done. It's an incredible range of time, perhaps too much. By visualizing so many important events, each one gets less important and it never really allows us to really see what's beneath that showy exterior.

Don't be confused; Ali is a good film. I guess I've fallen guilty to the unheard-of expectations that I had for this film. Coming from Michael Mann, how can you blame me?

On a scale of 1 to 10 rope renegades : 7