Michael Mann?s 'Ali? does justice to American legend

"Ali"

Directed by: Michael Mann

Starring: Will Smith, Jon Voight, Jamie Foxx

Rated: R

It's a clich now, to be sure, but in reality the 1960s was a decade of big changes in life as we knew it.

The first man went into orbit early in the decade, and by 1969 we had gone to the moon. The civil rights movement was in bloom, JFK's assassination stunned the world, Vietnam divided us and the Beatles invaded, setting off a chain reaction of cultural upheaval.

Things changed at a rapid pace. As much as anyone or any event Cassius Clay, who became Muhammad Ali, changed the world in a deep and profound way.

Not only an amazing athlete, he was a strong-willed, outspoken black man who went to the limits for his beliefs. There are many people who keep me in awe, but few occupy the level of Ali.

Dignity, power and grace. He's got it all. At one point he was the most recognized human being on the planet. The lives he touched and the impact he had are immeasurable. And finally someone has made a film that depicts some part of this living legend's life.

With "Ali," Mann has turned out his most personable film to date and Will Smith captures the character with an uncanny aplomb. The fight scenes aren't as "poetic" as those in "Raging Bull," and no one, outside of the champ himself can capture the grace he displayed in the ring, but Smith nails Ali's mannerisms and dialect with perfection.

Like "Raging Bull," "Ali" isn't so much a boxing movie as it is a movie about a complex human being who happens to be a boxer. The film focuses on a 10-year period of Ali's life, starting in 1964 when he took the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, through the monumental "Rumble in the Jungle" bout with George Foreman.

It's a pretty heavy 10-year stretch.

Mann, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wil-kinson and Eric Roth, weave tales that deal more with Ali's personal life than with his work in the ring.

We see how he became involved with The Nation of Islam the Black Mus-lims his dealings as an enemy of the state due to his refusal to be inducted into the army and the dysfunctional relationships he had with most of the women in his life.

Co-star Jon Voight is downright creepy as sportscaster Howard Cosell, a man who, despite the appearance of a public feud, stood up for, loved and respected Ali to the point of endangering his own career.

Cosell was unflinching in his interviews with Ali and always got down to the things that really mattered, so that it looked like he was at odds with champ, when he was one of Ali's biggest fans.

"Ali" clocks in at over 2 1/2 hours and stays fairly narrowly focused. I've heard a few complaints about this but must say and it may be because I'm blinded by my admiration for the subject at hand I didn't find the film to be overly long or tiresome.

Will Smith was on "Oprah" a few weeks ago talking about preparing for the role, and at the end, they brought out Muhammad Ali himself.

He is ravaged by Parkinson's disease, but he still retains the twinkle in his eye, the lilt in his voice and the dignity that made him not only the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, but one of the most important, influential people of the 20th century. He's a true living legend.

Thankfully, Mann's film does him justice.

(Jim Wunderle works at Associated Video Producers and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.)