Movies that flop do so generally because they suck. (Not always, but generally.) But some good ones fall through the cracks too, whether it be poor critical reception or no word of mouth, the reasons vary. In this case, a distinct hatred of director Michael Mann and a willingness to see him fail is chief among them. You have to understand, critics get tired of success stories. When they lift someone up, there has to be someone to knock down. The problem (for them anyway) is that Mann hasn’t made a bad film yet. Unfortunately, due to poor box office, ALI will be considered a failure. True, ALI is not his best film to date, but there’s still plenty to enjoy and be in awe of. The wonderful performances, excellent music and cinematography are all breathtaking. Something else that pisses critics off is that Mann believes in story first, message second. The fact that Roger Ebert so snidely remarked about how Malcolm X was handled better in Spike Lee’s version proves one thing. That Ebert’s just pissed that his golden boy Spike didn’t get to direct this. Besides, Roger, who the hell is this movie about?
Admittedly, a few qualms are valid, although not as damning as detractors have said. I wondered too why some things weren’t touched on more or glossed over so quickly, like the Supreme Court decision. This turning point, you would think, would’ve shown to be more joyous. But mostly, I was surprised that the film didn’t delve into Ali’s later years and his debilitating condition. Some sequences could’ve been shortened in favor of this.
Will Smith is indeed tremendous and well deserving of his OSCAR nomination. If you missed it in theaters, catch ALI on Pay-Per-View or on DVD (video too). Good movies shouldn’t simply fall by the wayside, although they do too often. But audiences can be found later, if not right away. In 1987, two movies were released that were worlds apart - RAISING ARIZONA & THE LAST EMPEROR. LAST EMPEROR won nine Academy Awards and ARIZONA wasn’t even a consideration. Guess which one is rented and/or watched more today?
