Over One Night, Four Icons Dissect Their Lives

From left: Leslie Odom Jr,. Eli Goree, 
Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Aldis Hodge in 
"One Night in Miami" 
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

When a movie tackles historical events, it’s important that they remain as true to real life as they can.  However, there are some times when, for the purposes of the story, they might have to stretch the truth a little.  But, as long as they get most of their subject right, this can be forgivable.

But, there are occasions when getting really creative with history can result in something invigorating.  This was accomplished by Kemp Powers for his 2013 stage-play debut, “One Night in Miami,” which followed a fictionalized account of four notable figures spending time together.  Now, actress Regina King makes her filmmaking debut with the movie adaptation of the same name, offering a compelling look into the meeting at the center of the movie.

The story unfolds in a Miami hotel room on a night in February 1964 with Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), following Ali’s stunning win against Sonny Liston.

The four leads create unforgettable chemistry as they talk, laugh, and argue through various discussions about their roles in life.  All of them exhibit a passion within their performances as they express the deep-rooted emotions of their characters.  Whether it be a scene of Ali praying with Malcolm X, Malcolm X and Sam fighting over how they should use their cultural status in the fight for equality, or Jim trying to calm Sam down after the latter argues with Malcolm X, each of the four leads is given an opportunity to show the power that they can contribute to this impressive quartet or actors.  They all express the dramatic weight that comes with each of their character’s journeys, presenting us with a view of what their real-life counterparts must have experienced.

Despite this movie focusing on four people for most of the runtime, the mightiness of the four lead performances proves that this movie would have worked even if it was just them in the movie without the brief supporting characters on the side.  With the leads spending a lot of time together, they do terrific work in not trying to outdo each other, but they instead give each of their performances the right amount of grandeur, while also allowing the others to shine.  This is a collaborative effort that works without flaw, and once the movie is over, you know that each of the leads gave everything they had and left it on the screen.

Powers’ screenplay mainly takes place in a hotel room, but the minimalist setting doesn’t lessen the power of the story in any way.  Before we arrive at the hotel, Powers provides us with an introductory scene for each lead character to help us get to know where they are at that stage in their life and to show us what issues they’re facing at that moment.  By the time that their lives converge in the hotel room, they’re able to provide an insight of what the outside world is like for them, just by the discussions that they have in that room.  The interactions that take place between the leads, whether it be two, three, or all four of the characters, offer many avenues through which to explore different topics.  It’s because of this that you have an idea of what each of the leads is thinking in terms of the issues that they face in the ‘60s, using a brief timeframe within the story to provide us with a bigger picture of their ongoing struggles.  Powers delivers an in-depth examination for each of his four main characters, and with just one night of these characters’ lives, we feel as if we know them by the time the film ends.

King shows much talent behind the camera, giving viewers an emotional portrait of four individuals trying to make it through their successful, yet challenging lives.  With a small, central cast and a limited setting, King displays a passion for getting the most out of what the story calls for and explores the era that’s depicted in superb detail.  Between the poignancy of the characters’ hardships, the lightheartedness of their growing friendship, the strain that sometimes arises among them, and the sense of hope that eventually prevails, King does well in having you understand the impact that this time period has on the characters.

Through the lens of this movie, “One Night in Miami” is a story from which can gain a lot, making it a night you won’t forget.

Grade: A