The irony in this is that these two paths can cross. I saw this on Tuesday with the premiere of Michael Mann’s Ali and Ron Howard’s A Beautiful Mind.
Ali the movie played mostly like small vignettes taken out of Muhammed Ali’s (Will Smith) life. From defying the government in a draft to go overseas for a war, to not hiring publicity people to speak his words for him, Ali was a man who stood out not only in the ring but out of the ring especially. Like another boxer, Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, his title he fought for was taken away from him. And at a time when segregation was very much out in the open and the country was a war, it’s hard not to see the ulterior motives in the powers that be. But with a deep strength and will that span deeper than his fists, he overcame a system and went on to be one of the most respected athletes in history.
And what about John Forbes Nash Jr? Most people would recognize Russell Crowe in a flash (which, as I remember, was not the case 5 years ago) as opposed the MIT mathematician who won a Nobel Prize after battling years of schizophrenia.
After films, not many people know of human achievements in everyday lives. Although these films left out a lot of aspects in each of the main character’s lives (Ali’s other achievements than his media related occurrences, and Nash’s bisexuality, racism and child he fathered out of wedlock according to the book the film was based on) the one thing it did was bring attention the fact that these people do exist. It’s a rather sad day in history when you realize the heroics shown onscreen by a person diminished by history and entertainment whom would have otherwise been ignored and held behind the newest fashion worn by a pampered movie star.
On the other hand, young children and teens can spot such role models on the screen and be prompted to go home and learn about more people who have achieved so much in a world that doesn’t recognize perseverance and strength when they see it.
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