Movie Review: One Night In Miami Is A Must-See
When it came to One Night In Miami, out on Prime January 15, it had me at Sam Cooke. I am a major fan of this music legend. His grace, activism, and 100% unique voice ricochets across generations to remind them that talent can be art. Thus, the idea that he was simply chilling at a bar with boxing legend Muhammed Ali/ Cassius Clay, civil rights legend Malcolm X, and NFL legend Jim Brown was enamoring. These were men that are praised now, in history, because they were so battered in their present. Yet, a person’s inner star has a way of shining through even when the only thing people do is try to dim them.
Making her directorial debut, Regina King proves that the key to making a great film is compassion. There is an air of elegance and empathy that brews in every scene as you meet our 4 heroes right at the cusp of their legend; they are men on the rise but finding racism is doing EVERYTHING to make sure they can’t even feel lifted. Written by Kemp Powers, whom also wrote the magnificent Soul, this man has a true, blessed gift. He has a way of making wisdom feel conversational; as if it is something born from just sitting in a hotel room with your buddies. Yet, as I mentioned when your friends have such star power, it is easy to feel shined. Thus, an exceptional cast was needed, and King found it in Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), Eli Goree (Cassius Clay), and Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown).
There has been Oscar Buzz around Odom’s performance as Sam Cooke and for good reason. First, his voice is like honey. Hence, GIVE HIM ALL THE AWARDS; the scenes when he sings are both mesmerizing and frustrating because his gorgeous vocal are in front of predominantly white, privileged audiences that could care less about a black man singing. The idea of offering yourself to the same community bringing down your own becomes central to character’s dialogues and quiet depressions. Ben-Adir brings a heaviness and innocence to Malcolm X, whom is remembered as a powerful presence. Yet, he was rightfully paranoid about leaving The Nation of Islam and how becoming a foil to white supremacy marked him for death. That loneliness is what makes him revel and loosen up with his friends, especially with the FLASHY, ENERGETIC, AND CHARISMATIC CASSIUS CLAY!
Goree is perfect as Cassius. He is a breathe of fresh, arrogant youth “air.” Coming off the high of winning a championship game that, clearly, the white audience did not want him to win. His Ego has a lit fuse that both motivates and maneuvers through his friends’ crushed ones. While they all are accomplished or accomplishing; the film shows the constant, biting prejudice of everyday life can gnaw at you. Even visiting your family can turn into “an event;” as seen with quiet, sweet Jim Brown. Hodge makes brown feel like the solidity of the group; although all play a role in strengthening each other to accept life as a black man is endangering, even if you have dedicated your life to being entertaining and enlightening.
On a basic, human level, it is hard to give your best in the face of constant discrimination. It feels crumbling to have someone go out of their path to disrupt yours, especially if it is not that they want you to lose but that they want you to not exist. Regina King and Kemp Powers have created a movie that is impactful, beautiful, cool, funny, smooth, and tragic. Sometimes, we think endings are sad, but beginnings carry their own heartache. In One Night In Miami, we find four men beginning and seeking hope in friendship to continue on. One Night In Miami comes out, Nationwide, on January 8, but on Prime January 15.
