Facing Ali
Hollywood heavy-hitters Will Smith and Michael Mann unite to tell the story of the legendary boxer, stripped of his heavyweight title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War
Heat and The Insider, the Michael Mann movies that preceded Ali, were quasi-epic stories of principled, embattled individuals with the world against them, facing down powerful enemies. Ali applies this formula to 10 momentous years in the life of the greatest sportsman of the 20th century, who achieved immortality in his own lifetime for his courage in and out of the ring. Ali - then Cassius Clay (Smith) - became heavyweight champion of the world in 1964, aged 22. He fought the Vietnam draft, was stripped of his title, and, incredibly, returned 10 years later to take it back, having whupped the American establishment in the Supreme Court along the way. The beginning, where Ali prepares to face Sonny Liston (boxer Bentt) in the first world title bout, is muted. Here Mann and Smith make him almost an enigma. And we're 10 minutes in before Ali utters a word. His character really comes to the fore in the ring. The action is visceral, explosive and thrilling. The fight scenes, where Smith trades real punches with his opponents, stand up to comparison with Raging Bull and send Rocky straight to the canvas. Despite his indefatigable self-belief - before the Smokin' Joe Frazier (boxer Toney) fight he tells a press conference "I'm gonna hit him so fast, he's gonna think he's surrounded" - Ali always seems the underdog. Dwarfed by his powerhouse opponents, he triumphs through pure virtuoso skill. Throughout, we see the public and private Ali, the one a familiar, loveable braggart, showman and troublemaker, the other a more reticent man, principled and aware of the pivotal role his status as a black Champ gives him in America at a time of momentous social change. We also witness Ali's womanising and his bullying nature - although Mann is careful not to compromise audience sympathy for his hero. Ali is a knockout, a biopic worthy of its subject; vast in its scope and its ambition to show the public achievements and private resolve of its protagonist. The climactic fight with George Foreman (boxer Shufford), when Ali rope-a-doped his incredible comeback, was actually shot in Africa, with 20,000 extras, and is absolutely breathtaking. Verdict Hollywood filmmaking at its best, with vast resources poured into a film of real intelligence and honesty, reflecting the complexity and ambivalence at the heart of its hero. Compelling. |
