ShowBizIreland.com
saw the first screening of Will Smith's new movie
Ali in London's Empire Cinema.
The
movie is based on the life of the world famous boxer Cassius
Clay who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
For
the role Smith, who is best known for roles in movies
such as Men in Black, beefed-up to nearly double
his body weight for the role in which his wife Jade Smith
joins him for a short time.
In the film she plays Ali's first wife who marries and divorces
him a total of three times.
Starting
in 1964 with the champ's first fight against the racism
within his community and moving to his first boxing match
for the title of Heavyweight champion of the world, Smith
gives a outstanding boxing performance against Sonny
Listen, whom he beats for the title.
Smith has perfected all of Ali's dialogue and one-liners,
he glides through the classic "Fly like a butterfly, sting
like a bee" as if it were being said for the first time.
The
film illustrates how Ali made friends with the civil rights
leader Malcolm X and his involvement in the Fellowship
of Islam, who take over his management, and then abandon
him when he is arrested for refusing to take part in the
draft for Vietnam.
Moving quickly the film provides fast, hard-hitting fight
scenes and a well-chosen cast.
Jon
Voight is nearly unrecognizable as Ali's close friend,
a boxing reporter.
It
shows Ali as a man who was taken advantage of by his friends.
A man who wins his title and dignity back in 1977 when he
beats George Foreman (who was ten years younger then
him) during the Rumble in the Jungle fight in Africa,
one of the first fights promoted by Don King.
Ali is a well-written well-acted movie. It could do with
a little more tension but then again it is based on a life
that had enough for ten movies.
Definitely
worth a visit when it comes out after Christmas.
Verdict:
**** (4 stars out of 5) Jason O'Callaghan.
www.ShowBizIreland.com - © Copyright 2000 - 2012.