One Night in Miami...

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As you know, I always try to know as little as possible about a film before watching it. From skipping trailers to sometimes not even reading the synopsis and going in blind, I firmly believe the best experience one can have is to be surprised by the movie. However, a few films - mainly those "based in real events or real people" - warrant a little pre-research. Before sitting to watch One Night in Miami, I read a little bit about each main character's life to understand who they were, what sort of impact they had in the Black community, and if the night depicted in the movie truly happened. Well, the gathering of these four friends that night is indeed real, but what they really talked about is fictionalized by Kemp Powers' screenplay and Regina King's directorial debut.

Honestly, I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. I didn't have high expectations, but it would still surpass them if I had. It's one of those films anyone will struggle to find major flaws. King blows everyone away with her outstanding directing work, showing incredible control of her craft and deep knowledge of the art of filmmaking. Most of the narrative is spent in a small, cheap motel room. One-location movies are a brutal, challenging task for any director to handle, let alone a debutant, especially when there's no action to create excitement or a significant amount of comedy to entertain the audience. However, King's masterful blocking, framing, and shot composition make every scene feel unique with the help of exquisite cinematography (Tami Reiker) despite the place rarely changing.

These technical attributes may seem insignificant for the general audience, but they're a major reason why this film remains remarkably captivating and refreshing after each conversation. Nevertheless, Powers' screenplay - adapted from his own play of the same name - is as innovative as thought-provo...

Inspired by a true story, “One Night in Miami” imagines what happened the night real-life friends Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), football star Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), soul singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and heavyweight boxing champ Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) gathered at the Hampton House Motel to celebrate Clay’s victory over Sonny Liston. Over the course of the evening, the men at first are in a celebratory, playful mood, taking lighthearted jabs at each other and enjoying the company. But as the night progresses, the conversations grow more intense, and the four friends have a thoughtful (and confrontational) discussion on race, equality, and the black man’s experience in America.

Set during the Civil Rights movement in 1964, the timeless subject matter unfortunately has just as much relevance almost 60 years later. You could transport these men into modern times and their conversations about racial injustice would sound almost identical to those being discussed by people today. It’s an important story to tell, and Regina King has captured the essence of Kemp Powers‘s play in her feature directorial debut.

Since the film is based on a stage play, it feels very talky. Most of the action takes place within the confines of a motel room, yet it never feels claustrophobic. King gets the men out of the motel for a few scenes, including a show-stopping piece at a Sam Cooke concert that shows off her talented eye for directing.

The insightful script (adapted for the screen by Powers himself) is among the best of the year, and the charismatic young actors carry the dialogue-heavy film with confidence. They’re called on to do a lot of heavy lifting, and every single person in the cast fully becomes the cultural legends they portray. These men make the historical figures come alive with a seemingly effortless chemistry. Every scene plays like natural, realistic banter among friends.

I’m ashamed to admit that this is a story I’ve never heard before. The film a...

It's much more rewarding to have something to actually think about or a moral question to ponder rather than have the movie tell you how to feel. It's a rare pleasure to watch a film like Regina King's 'One Night in Miami' that is willing to leave big questions about four larger-than-life men up in the air instead of trying to answer them.

• Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-one-night-in-miami-a-dynamic-look-at-a-meeting-of-four-icons

Bravo "Regina King" a most moving film for the likes of us mere mortals. Thought provoking for sure but more than just imaging a world without racism, greed, hatred and violence; i think this movie is a call to everyone to choose a better way of life for family and loved ones. The struggle is finding a way to nurture a safe place for all of us. Thanks again for the Show.