This film traces Mohammed Ali's life over its ten most eventful years. Starting in 1964, the year Ali won the world heavyweight title for the first time, it covers his involvement in the Nation of Islam, his friendship with Malcolm X, his troubled marriage, and his run-in with the US Government over the draft. It ends in 1974, the year of the famous Rumble in the Jungle.
Ali is a film that wants to be great so hard you can hear it straining. Some parts of the film are nearly flawless. Jon Voight could easily be Howard Cosell's long-lost twin, and his relationship with Ali is a major highlight of the film. On the downside, there are several very long shots with no obvious purpose, and the fight scenes are almost incomprehensible. For a film about a great boxer, you'd think there'd have to be some great fight scenes. Will Smith is brilliant as Ali, easily the best work he's done in his career so far. After watching this and Training Day, in my opinion Smith was very unfairly gypped at the Oscars. See this one for Smith's performance, and try to ignore Mann's attempt to make a 'significant' film.