One Night In Miami

D: Regina King

Amazon/ABKCO/Snoot/Germano/Hit Factory/Capital Studios (Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder & Jody Klein)

US 2020

114 mins

Drama

W: Kemp Powers [based on his stage play]

DP: Tami Reiker

Ed: Tariq Anwar

Mus: Terence Blanchard

Kingsley Ben-Adir (Malcolm X), Eli Goree (Cassius Clay), Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Sam Cooke), Lance Reddick (Brother Kareem), Christian Magby (Jamaal)

The stage origins are quite apparent in this screen adaptation of Kemp Powers’ play.

This fictional account of events sees four prominent African-American figures of the 1960’s come together to discuss civil rights issues and racism they’ve faced throughout their lives and careers.

On the evening of Cassius Clay’s heavyweight title victory, he joins Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke at a Miami hotel room where the debate how best to use their voices to make America and the world a better place for less fortunate black people.

The ensemble cast here are all excellent, perfectly embodying the famous personalities they are portraying, in particular Leslie Odom, Jr. who is note perfect as legendary soul singer Sam Cooke.

The film was clearly inspired into production following the racial tensions that are still in the public eye, especially in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the political discourse that has come with it.  This will certainly make it a far more powerful viewing experience for some, whilst others may only just appreciate it for the performances alone with no affiliation with the social messaging.

Nevertheless, it’s still a film about four men sitting in a room talking politics. It will either be your thing or it won’t.

7/10