You guys have gotta check this movie out. Especially the soundtrack. The title song by R.Kelly “The Worlds Greatest” is terrific and really fits the movie - after all this is Ali we`re talking about here.
It comes out on the 25th - check it out !
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Cast: Will Smith, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Mykelti Williamson and Jamie Foxx
Directed by: Michael Mann
Michael Mann’s latest is a love-struck slow dance through Muhammad Ali’s (Will Smith) life, a “greatest moments” procedural with style to burn. The film’s opening soul gig toys with images from Ali’s pre-political existence; the young boxer jogs despite taunts from white cops, Malcolm X’s (Mario Van Peebles) shadow looming over the proceedings. Cassius Clay snags the heavyweight title, dons the Ali surname via Muslim Nation baptismal and soon becomes the “people’s champ.” The ABC Sports program hosted by Howard Cosell (John Voight) turns into Ali’s boastful platform when the fighter takes jabs at everyone from Cosell’s wife to his opponent’s ugliness. Ali mouths off to Congress, defending his right not to fight in Vietnam. Ali is now the accidental freedom fighter, vigorously incendiary thanks to Smith’s jiggy consumption of the real-life boxer’s speech patterns and body movements. The Muslim Nation drops Ali when he loses a fight only to reinstate him once he regains the heavyweight title; Ali may call them on their crimes but he’s still all about the benjamins.
Mixing populist sentiment with spunky aplomb, Michael Mann is as great as Hollywood directors come nowadays. It’s a bit of a surprise that Ali has made it to the big screen this quick considering the project’s multiple rewrites and directorial game of musical chairs. Will Smith vies for artistic credibility as Muhammad Ali, a role that’s likely to snag the megastar his first Oscar nomination. While Smith’s acting chops may be less than stellar, he certainly has the ego to fill Ali’s gloves. Smith recently told Playboy that Jada Pinkett Smith was lovin’ the actor’s newly sculpted body. Smith says, “'Cause being in great shape–I mean, I am a sexual machine now. Raring to go every second of the day. I’m human Viagra. I am Will-agra.” Pinkett-Smith, the actor’s second wife, stars in the film as Sonji Roi, Ali’s first wife. (Note to Jada: um, congratulations.)
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