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www.filmthreat.com - : Will Smith proves any naysayers wrong from the get-go in ''Ali.'' The extra pounds of muscle he packed on for the role is indeed just the tip of the iceberg; more than simply inhabiting the boxing great's physique, Smith erases his own star persona to completely embody The Greatest's spirit, convincingly capturing his uniquely charismatic swagger. While certainly not a box office risk, the casting of Smith was an artistic risk, and it's one that pays off quite handsomely. more...
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3/5
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www.cinema-scene.com - : The movie is worth seeing, nonetheless. It features a great performance from Will Smith in the title role and a barrage of interesting set pieces. Where the movie fails to control its storytelling, Smith comes in to redefine the idea of impersonation. The actor put on 35-pounds of muscle to bulk up to Ali's size in his prime years. The actor does not terribly look like Mohammed Ali (as a matter of fact, he looks more like the actor who played a young Ali in the horrible 1977 film The Greatest), but he has taken the time to learn the speech patterns and mannerisms of the real man. more...
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3/4
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www.reel.com - : The lion's share of the acting glory goes to Smith. Gaining over 35 pounds of muscle, the actor's transformation into Ali is the reverse of Robert De Niro's fat-tastic shapeshift as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. But the change isn't just physical. Smith replicates Ali's vocal inflections and even replicates some of the fighter's signature punches and dodges. He also puts his own mark on the role, letting us see the inner sorrow that lurked behind the champ's über-confident public persona. more...
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3.5/
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Critic Reviews
