"For your consideration" is the phrase used in ads touting year-end films for Oscar nominations. Its application is most often wishful thinking (The Majestic? Please!). But if awards still have anything to do with rewarding balls-out daring, then Michael Mann's Ali deserves a fistful. Start with Will Smith, who molded his lean body into 220 pounds of heavyweight muscle and nailed the champ's verbal strut. It's a remarkable transformation that could have stalled at mimicry if Smith hadn't also…

The story of champion boxer Muhammad Ali's struggle to regain the heavyweight crown, set against a backdrop of political and racial strife in '60s America.

Story

Ali, the story of boxing champion Muhammad Ali (nee Cassius Clay), wants its audience to care about Ali's drive to be the champ, his yearning for racial equality, his strong Muslim faith and even his failings--as husband, friend, human being. Unfortunately, the film's early scenes don't really give the audience much insight into Ali the…