One Night In Miami

       

Based on the play of the same title, this film imagines what took place when Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali), Football star, Jim Brown, Singer Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X all meet after Clay's title bout against Sonny Liston in 1964.

       Malcolm X arranges a meeting in his hotel room after the fight, where it is his hope to "recruit" the stars into the Nation of Islam and join his cause. Clay has already decided but starts to question his decision and tension escalates between Malcolm and Same Cooke as the night goes on. 

        While most of the story takes place in the hotel room and feels very much like watching the play it's based on, director Regina King opens things up with clever camera angles and "opening up" the film in the beginning and the end. She also manages wonderful performances from her four main actors.  Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Malcolm X, Eli Goree plays Cassius Clay, Leslie Odom Jr. plays Sam Cooke and Aldis Hodge plays Jim Brown. Each actor is given their moment to shine but it is the interplay between the four that is most exciting to watch.

        Mr. Goree is wonderful as Cassius Clay. He captures the young boxer perfectly. Mr. Ben-Adir and Mr. Odum are both excellent, especially during their tense verbal fireworks. Mr. Hodge also holds his own as the quieter of the four who tries to keep things light but starts to question his own place in a "white man's world".

       While many questions are raised in this imagined scenario, there are no easy answers as the night ends. As the film comes to a close, we see the inevitable result of each man's decision, debated during that fateful night.