The Rewatchables · July 7, 2026

Ali

year 2001 decade 00s director Michael Mann genre Sports genre Drama

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Van Lathan producer Craig Horlbeck

Casting what-if: Will Smith initially resisted the role until Ali personally asked
Weakest link: The three-year narrative jump
Sequel or remake: A ten-hour prestige series

All 32 categories

Roger Ebert
Just one Oscar Jamie Foxx
“That Guy” Award Tentatively, Barry Shabaka Henley
Scorsese or Spielberg Martin Scorsese

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:27:13

Three separate takes propose a Chauncey Eskridge film, praise Smith’s silent acting, and recenter the biopic on Ali and Frazier’s three fights.

A film about attorney Chauncey Eskridge representing both Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali is proposed.

Another take says Smith is at his best here when acting without dialogue.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 1:44:41

“Free ain’t easy

Bill Simmons: The line is stated and accepted as the life lesson.

The film

Ali (2001)

Directed by Michael Mann · Sports

159 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Will Smith Cassius Clay Jr. / Muhammad Ali

Jamie Foxx Drew Bundini Brown

Jon Voight Howard Cosell

Mario Van Peebles Malcolm X

Ron Silver Angelo Dundee

Jeffrey Wright Howard Bingham

Mykelti Williamson Don King

Jada Pinkett Smith Sonji Roi

Nona Gaye Belinda Boyd / Khalilah Ali

Michael Michele Veronica Porché

Joe Morton Chauncey Eskridge

Paul Rodriguez Dr. Ferdie Pacheco

Bruce McGill Bradley

Barry Shabaka Henley Herbert Muhammad

Giancarlo Esposito Cassius Clay Sr.

Laurence Mason Luis Sarria

LeVar Burton the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr

Albert Hall Elijah Muhammad

David Cubitt Robert Lipsyte

Michael Bentt Sonny Liston

Robert Sale Jerry Quarry

James Toney Joe Frazier

Charles Shufford George Foreman

David Haines Rudy Clay / Rahaman Ali

Leon Robinson Brother Joe

Ted Levine Joe Smiley

Malick Bowens Joseph Mobutu

Victoria Dillard Betty Shabazz

David Elliott Sam Cooke

Brad Greenquist Marlin Thomas

Graham Clarke a Reporter in Zaire

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

1:26:17

The Bam Out of Bayo 83 Point

Jon Voight as Howard Cosell

Jon Voight as Howard Cosell

The panel proposes a new category here.

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:17Read transcript

One speaker explains his millennial reference points for Voight and says the credits revealed the Cosell role. — Craig Horlbeck
He praises Voight’s unrecognizable performance.

Share this discussion More The Bam Out of Bayo 83 Point answers

1:34:27

The Proof of Life / David Caruso Award for a Character Who Should Have Been Spun Off into Their Own Sequel

Giancarlo Esposito’s Cassius Clay Sr., watching his son’s rise

Giancarlo Esposito’s Cassius Clay Sr., watching his son’s rise

Flex pick · Van Lathan

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:34:27Read transcript

The flex category explicitly asks which character deserves a sequel. — Van Lathan
Cassius Clay Sr.’s perspective across his son’s transformation is the chosen story. — Van Lathan

Share this discussion More The Proof of Life / David Caruso Award for a Character Who Should Have Been Spun Off into Their Own Sequel answers