Director: Regina King
Writer: Kemp Powers (Screenplay)
Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr, Lance Reddick, Christian Magby
Plot: One Night in Miami is a fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: One Night in Miami starts as we meet the four influential black men, boxing champion of the world Cassius Clay (Goree), Malcolm X (Ben-Adir), American football star Jim Brown (Hodge) and musician Sam Cooke (Odom Jr).
The four come from their different worlds, to meet one night in a hotel room, to discuss what they are doing to help make a change in the world, seeing some clashes, while agreeing on other things, they know they will go down in history, they just want to make sure they are on the right side of it.
Thoughts on One Night in Miami
Characters – We get to meet four of the biggest names in black history, we know the boxing superstar of Cassius Clay who is showing off his cocky style in the ring, frustrating his trainers, but winning his fights, Malcolm X the leader who was changing the way the black man was treated, he is always looking over his shoulder, believing the white man is out to silence his ideals. Jim Brown is breaking records in the American football leagues, he is in a position where he can transition to another world of acting, while his movements are seen as groundbreaking for the rest of the community. Sam Cooke has seen his music rise up the charts, but he still can only perform to the biggest crowds of white people only, he wants his voice heard but doesn’t have the same crowds as the other three.
Performances – We have four actors here Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr who are all brilliant to watch, they all look the part of the famous figures they are playing, filled with the small mannerisms that they would have shown or can be seen in achieve footage.
Story – The story here follows the fictional idea that four of the most influential black men in history once meant up in a hotel room to discuss what they are planning to do to make a difference for the black man in a modern world. This is a story that is fictional account of what could have happened if the four met, while we will never know the truth about anything they truly discussed together, this showed how determined they were to make a difference and highlights that even in a position of trying to make a difference, you will see people clash with what they want to change and how they want to achieve this change.
Settings – Most of the film is set inside the hotel room, showing that between the four walls, the ideas of change would have been discussed by the important people that could make a difference.
Scene of the Movie – The roof top.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not knowing my music, I didn’t have clue who Sam Cooke was going in.
Final Thoughts – One Night in Miami is a very interesting drama that shows an idea of what could have happened if four of the biggest names in black history worked together for a change.
