The Champ may have been the greatest, but director
Michael Mann also connects--making an intelligent and well-stylized biopic of the man who was a legend in his own time (and in his own mind). Surefire Oscar nom
Will Smith has Ali's fancy footwork, mannerisms and physique down pat (prancing not only around the ring but, as we learn here, with the ladies as well).
And the boxing scenes of Ali going toe-to-toe against heavyweight champs Sonny Liston and George Foreman are as authentic as anything since De Niro jumped into the ring for
Raging Bull. The nearly three-hour film does slow down when it focuses too much Ali's relationship with Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam and leaves behind cool stuff like Ali's manipulation of the media, training regimen and relationship with confidante Angelo Dundee. But we're still calling this one a winning TKO.
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