REVIEW: Regina King’s “One Night in Miami…” Brings History to Life in Engrossing Tale
Friends are by your side for every up and every down. They are the people you go to when you need to vent or just have a laugh with. They are the ones that are going to call you out on your actions, even when you don’t want to hear it. In Regina King’s directorial debut, One Night in Miami…, we watch as four friends, Cassius Clay, aka Muhammad Ali, (Eli Goree), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) come together to celebrate Clay’s historic boxing win against heavy weight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall. What is supposed to be a night of celebration for these friends, turns into a night of revelations and honest conversations regarding each of their roles in the civil rights movement, religion and so much more.
Based on the stage play “One Night In Miami…” by Kemp Powers, the night depicted in this film is based on a true event which took place in 1964. As many would know, Stage plays aren’t always the easiest pieces to adapt to the screen. They typically feature one set and a small cast, which can sometimes be difficult to adapt to screen, but this wasn’t a problem for King. Beautifully shot, she easily brings the play to life on screen. She took the material and made it come to life in a powerful, exciting way. You would never guess after seeing this film that this was her first time in a film’s director’s seat and it definitely won’t be her last.
The cast also played a key part in bringing this great film to life. Goree, Ben-Adir, Odom Jr., and Hodge each gave award-worthy performances as our leads. Each actor poured their heart into their role. Watching them felt like you were watching real friends with how easily they played off one another, especially between Odom Jr. and Ben-Adir. The two clash over the choices they each have made and the roles they have chosen to play in society. The two actors gracefully make their way through these scenes allowing the audience to not only feel for the characters, but also understand why they have done what they have done.
Honest conversations are not always the easiest conversations, especially between friends. To talk about topics that may lead to rifts or create tension, King’s One Night in Miami…shines a light on just this. The topics touched on in this film are, unfortunately, still topics we are talking about today. We watch as these four friends talk about their roles in these topics and if their roles are really making an impact. By the end of the film, you are left wondering, is my role making an impact?
Filled with powerful performances and a story many can still relate to today, the film will definitely leave audience goers talking. Whether it be on the topics they talk about in the film or the fact that this film, its actors, and director will be major contenders during the upcoming award season, it is definitely a film everyone should check out.
Grade: A+