By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.9 cats
Director: Regina King
Starring: Aldis Hodge | Eli Goree | Kingsley Ben-Adir | Leslie Odom Jr.
Country: united_states
Year: 2020
Running time: 110
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10612922
Chris says: “It has a wish-fulfillment premise probably better suited to the stage (from which it’s adapted) than the screen, but Regina King’s assured directorial debut mostly overcomes the occasionally clunky dialogue through the sheer force of its four leads, especially Leslie Odom, Jr’s effervescent Sam Cooke and Kingsley Ben-Amir’s multi-faceted Malcolm X (maybe as good as Denzel’s, though I haven’t seen the Spike Lee film in decades.) 3.75 cats”
Bob says: “Regina King’s directorial debut brings Muhammad Ali (still going by Cassius Clay at the time), Malcolm X, Same Cook and Jim Brown together to celebrate Ali winning the championship. Feels a lot like a stage play, as most of the film takes place in a motel room, and sure enough, the screenplay is based on a play by the same writer.”
Michael says: “As I am not a fan of historic films or biopics, this one had a lot going against it. I was hopeful, as it was directed by Regina King, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I lost interest fairly quickly, and it was difficult for me to stay with the film, although I did finish it. ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI imagines a fictional evening spent with a historically significant gathering, Cassius Clay (not yet Muhammed Ali), Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown. The four gather together at a hotel in Miami after Clay defeats heavyweight champ Sonny Liston in 1964. Expecting a celebratory party, Cooke and Brown arrive at Malcolm X’s hotel room to find it just the four of them. Clay is about to convert to the Muslim faith and take on his new name, and Malcolm puts the hard press on Sam Cooke to do something more with his talents than try to please white audiences. The film is based on a 2013 play by Kemp Powers and is based on an actual meeting.