Take me Home!

Cinema TimesOut this weekComing soonCompetitionsFeaturesCinema Times
NewsLinksThe MagazineeBay AuctionsTrailersBookmark UsContact Unreel

Ali
Release Date: 22nd February 2002
Distributor: Entertainment Films
Certificate: 15
Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Jada Pinkett Smith
Director: Michael Mann
Running Time: 156 mins
Cassius Clay (Smith) was a smart-talking, quick-footed fireball, both inside the ring, and out, who lit up the world of professional sports in the 1960's, eventually dropping his slave name, becoming Muhammad Ali, and refusing to go to Vietnam.
Champion, leader, and media idol... Ali was like all four Beatles wrapped up in one.
Although now a shadow of his former self due to suffering from Parkinson's disease, Ali is still alive and this film celebrates one of the best parts of an amazing career.

Based on the period from 1964 to 1974, this film depicts the most tumultuous decade of Muhammad Ali's life. In 1964 Ali won the heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston (Michael Bent), then years later had his boxing license and championship title stripped when he refused to join the Army during the Vietnam War. But in 1974 Ali capped off a heroic comeback by winning the heavyweight crown for a second time by defeating George Foreman during the "Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire.
Featuring an ensemble cast headed by Smith, the film also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Ron Silver, Nona Gaye, Michael Michele, Joe Morton, Paul Rodriguez and Jada Pinkett Smith (Will's real life spouse) as Ali's first wife Sonji Roi.
Directed by Michael Mann, and written by Stephen J Rivele and Chris Wilkinson, 'Ali' is the latest in a whole line of boxing movies have been making a resurgence at cinema in the last few years, 'The Hurricane' with Denzel Washington, 'Girlfight' featuring Michelle Rodriguez and 'Play it to the Bone' with both Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas all spring immediately to mind. "I turned it down for a few years," said Will Smith of the role. "It just seemed entirely too huge. I knew I'd have triple duty: I had to learn how to fight. Then I had to learn how to fight like Ali, the greatest fighter of all time. And then just becoming the man." Smith apparently had to gain 30 pounds of muscle to play Ali. Jada Pinkett Smith shot her scenes in the film prior to flying to Australia to start work on the second and third installments of 'The Matrix'.