Selected cast credits · Film reference
Roger Ebert’s two-star review is challenged: the panel values the film’s examination of sacrifice more than a celebratory portrait.
The opening through the Liston weigh-in is the leading choice; other picks include the Liston fights, Malcolm X scenes, Ali watching Foreman destroy Frazier, Cosell scenes, and the Zaire arrival.
Will Smith’s commercial peak, the ascending-and-veteran ensemble, Ron Silver, and young Will Smith/Jada Pinkett Smith are proposed as the most 2001 details.
Committed athletic-role preparation, Howard Cosell’s voice, and the slowed bell-rung boxing effect are distinct pleasures.
Jamie Foxx and Giancarlo Esposito together, James Toney’s acting, the Foreman heavy-bag image, sports-media cameos, “The Champ Is Here” sample, Smith’s fighting credibility, the Malcolm X structure, and the opening music staging are praised.
The speed-bag image, purposeful ramp walk, Foreman-fight entrance, dark Zaire arrival, and overhead-to-behind running shot are nominated.
Zaire is the unanimous scene-stealing location.
Ali remains the preferred title over The Political Education/Awakening of Muhammad Ali, The Redemption of Muhammad Ali, and The Champ Is Here.
Jamie Foxx as Bundini Brown wins for an entrance that introduces Ali’s performance persona.
The three-year narrative jump is the primary weak link; the relationship material and timing of Belinda’s confrontation before the Foreman fight are also criticized.
R. Kelly’s soundtrack presence and Ali remembering a woman from when she was an 11-year-old student are the distinct aged-worst choices.
Craig Horlbeck selects Jon Voight as Howard Cosell because he did not recognize him until the credits.
The panel proposes a new category here.
Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck
Three separate takes propose a Chauncey Eskridge film, praise Smith’s silent acting, and recenter the biopic on Ali and Frazier’s three fights.
Will Smith initially resisted the role until Ali personally asked; Denzel Washington is considered and rejected as too small for the heavyweight physicality.
Barry Shabaka Henley is the tentative choice from an ensemble described as graduated That Guys.
Mykelti Williamson as Don King wins over the Joe Frazier and Veronica Porché performances; Giancarlo Esposito is later raised as another eligible option.
Spike Lee is the main alternate director, with Oliver Stone also mentioned and James Toney briefly suggested as a performance swap.
Research covers Smith as an Ali pallbearer, Smith and Mann contributing salaries after the budget overrun, Ali visiting the set, and Albert Hall’s roles in Ali and Malcolm X.
Giancarlo Esposito’s Cassius Clay Sr. should lead a film about watching his son’s rise, conversion, name change, relationships, and entourage.
Will Smith’s apex is disputed among Ali, his late-1990s run, and Hitch; Michael Mann’s is placed at The Insider or the broader Insider-to-Ali imperial phase.
Bundini wins over “Ali Bomaye.”
Tom Hanks is chosen, principally as Howard Cosell; Tom Cruise is jokingly placed as Angelo Dundee.
Martin Scorsese is chosen.
The panel flags reversed Ellis Quarry/MLK chronology, doubts the Cosell Supreme Court notification, wants date cards, and notes Ali’s speech should slow by Zaire.
A ten-hour prestige series is preferred and compared with the announced Amazon Ali project.
Pete Postlethwaite as Bundini Brown and Ted Levine as the FBI agent are proposed.
Jamie Foxx is the majority choice, while Jon Voight receives one vote.
Why more boxers did not try Liston’s glove trick and whether Liston threw the second fight are the questions.
The signed hand tape, first-Liston-fight robe, and vintage gloves are chosen.
“Free ain’t easy; free is real” is selected.
When We Were Kings and Malcolm X are the two choices.
The panel splits among Michael Mann, Jamie Foxx, and Will Smith in the moment; Mann is the strongest over-time choice.
