This movie has been out for nearly 15 years and I just now, in 2016, just finished it. I am truly stunned by how amazingly well the movie captures that era and it pulls no punches with its portrayal of those characters in the background of the champ. As well, the mechanization's of the US gov in coordination of the media, sports and the nation of Islam and their social engineering...This movie is more than about Ali, It's filled with many layers. I am lucky to have been a teen when the Rumble in the Jungle happened. Of course, our media did what they do...Carried the water, besmirched an "enemy of the state"... There are so many instances of the collusions between these powerful self interest...But...If you haven't seen this movie yet, Like I hadn't...You will be as surprised as I as to how great it is! Special mention to Jon Voight...I saw Cosell his whole career...His portrayal of him was so spot on...He did him perfectly! A new angle on the 60's and 70's... race relations, government malfeasance, mob influence, Islam ...Brilliantly done.

I'm not saying he's the worst actor out there but, he just didn't seem to fit the look of the real Mohammad Ali. I think he seemed to be more himself than Ali and plus, he doesn't fully look like Ali. They really should've concentrated and been more careful on the casting side while they were making this movie.Now I have to say, the boxing scenes were really well done but what puts me off was just the bad casting. Also I even didn't think Jamie Foxx should've acted as Ali's trainer, Drew Bundini Brown. He just acted too chilled just like himself but with this serious role, he just didn't seem to be prepared to be encouraging type. Thankfully I didn't watch the whole movie because honestly, it just bored me to tears. Its sad that the real Ali left us this year with Parkinson's disease. RIP Ali (The Greatest) <3

It's a biopic of the great boxer Muhammad Ali (Will Smith). It starts in 1964 when still as Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. Malcolm X (Mario Van Peebles) befriends the young fighter. He is outspoken, converts to Islam joining the Nation of Islam, and becomes the world wide icon. Jon Voight makes a nice turn as Howard Cosell.Muhammad Ali is such a big personality. Possibly nobody could ever do him justice. Certainly nobody could ever live up to the legend. Will Smith is probably the only one who could make the attempt. The fact that he didn't embarrass himself is a big win. It is a surprise that director Michael Mann made this movie. It doesn't have the kinetic energy of his other movies. It's such a dour performance. Will is playing it with simmering anger every second of the movie. He's great with Ali's voice, but it doesn't have any joy in it. Will is good hitting that same note over and over again. I just wish he hit other notes in his performance. 'When We Were Kings' is a superior movie for comparison. This is a good biopic not not much more.

In 1964, a brash new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes on to the scene, Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self confidence with his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all time. To his credit, he sets out to prove that with his highly agile and forceful style soon making him a formidable boxer who soon claims the heavyweight championship. His personal life is no less noteworthy with his allegiance to the Nation of Islam, his friendship with the controversial Malcolm X and his abandonment of his slave name in favor of Muhammad Ali stirring up controversy. Yet, at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test with the military draft rules are changed, making him eligible for military induction during the Vietnam War. For the life of me, I've never figured out how Ali can be considered such a great human when he was a member of the Nation of Islam -- an organization that to this day hates whites and jews.He definitely was a great fighter among great fighters. During a time that will never exist again.The movie cast Will Smith well, although it's apparent n the fight scene that he's a wuss and couldn't punch himself out of a paper bag.As bio pics go, it's OK. Not great. Just OK