"One Night In Miami" Review: A Fly On The Wall Peek
If given the chance to be a fly on the wall for a historic conversation, what conversation would you choose? We’ve been invited to be a fly on the wall with four black historical figures in One Night in Miami. Director/Producer Regina King and screenwriter Kemp Powers have given us a thought-provoking glimpse into history through a fictional interpretation of true events as discussed by iconic figures. The concept is fresh, innovative, and does not disappoint. Thanks to Kemp’s screenplay and a star-studded cast, the transition from stage play to the screen is smooth.
On Feb. 25, 1964, after Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) shocked the world by defeating Sonny Liston to become the Boxing World Champion, he and a few friends (Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Malcom X (Kingsley Ben-Adir)) decide to meet in a room at a hotel in Miami before going out to celebrate Clay’s victory. Once in the room, the men begin to exchange stories of their personal trials and tribulations of being a black man with power in America in 1964.
From the cinematography to the music selections, everything is intentional and well crafted. With King in the director’s chair (for the first time, mind you) and Powers’ powerful writing (Disney’s Soul), this film sets a bar for one location plays adapted to the screen. It doesn’t feel like a stage play, but more like a documentary. Powers’ writing captures and confronts topics with a perspective on political, religious and racial issues that still ring true with African Americans today.
The film exposes the difficult situation these men found themselves in as prominent figures in society. There was a particular crossroad they had to pass in terms of the fact that they could personally be successful and wealthy and not ruffle political feathers or use their status to make a difference which would come with strife. An example of a topic of discourse is between Malcom X and Sam Cooke. Malcolm feels Cooke could use his voice through music to help with the black movement in a direct way rather than indirectly helping from the sidelines. Cooke explains how he writes songs and receives royalties to be able to have financial capital to make a difference, stating “I don’t want a piece of the pie; I want the recipe.” The clash gives an interesting notion of the two wanting the same results but attaining it in different ways, which is something we saw from many leaders at the time.
You can feel the emotion that each actor delivers in their interpretation of their characters as though they channelled their real-life counterparts. Goree (Clay) and Ben-Adir (X) re-imagined the expressions of the figures previously portrayed by Will Smith and Denzel Washington (with great success) and etched and expanded their own paths forward. Goree portrays Clay as a charming charismatic version of the champ, coming to make the big decision of converting to the Nation of Islam. Ben-Adir shows multiple facets of Malcom X as a family man whose goal is to advance black people from the harsh realities of America at the time, while fighting a few personal fights within the Nation of Islam simultaneously. Hodge (Jim Brown) and Odom Jr (Sam Cooke) also set a high bar for their performances of the two characters. Hodge shows the calm and dominant demeanor that turned Brown into a household name for both football and acting. The multi-talented Odom, uses the voice we loved in Hamilton to effortlessly step into the crooner’s shoes.
Overall, this concept is a first-class piece of art. I laughed, my thoughts were provoked, and I learned something about each of these high-profile characters on a personal level, especially their stances on the advancement of black people. Most importantly, I was inspired by each character as he shared how his experiences supplied purpose to his life and how status as a celebrity was going to be used to fulfill that purpose. If you love original content that tells a good story, this is a must watch. If it was in theaters, I’d go, but the at home experience does it justice. It’s a well-constructed film that will give you an appreciation for each of these characters and will have you looking for other opportunities to be a fly on the wall. One Night in Miami is set to start streaming on Amazon Prime January 15th.
Rating: A
Why "Straight Outta Compton" is a Powerful Biopic (Review)
“Straight Outta Compton” is worthy to be mentioned in awards talk this year. Clocking in at 147 minutes, the bio-drama will keep you riveted in your seat without glancing at your watch. While the film takes certain liberties with history, there is no doubt that N.W.A took a stand, transformed music, and made an impact on a generation that can still be felt today.
From 1986-91 the group N.W.A made a mark in hip hop music that crossed boundaries and changed the landscape of American music, and some may argue the world. One of the earliest groups to popularize gangsta rap, N.W.A consisted of Ice Cube (O’shea Jackson Jr.), Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.), and MC Ren (Aldis Hodge). Formed at a time when police brutality and harassment in black communities was turning up, the group’s message was forged out of that oppression and living in the tough Compton neighborhood, which gave them a spirit and drive to have their voices heard.
The film covers the group over a ten year period. It focuses mainly on Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre’s journey during that time. As the three most notorious members of the group, we’re able to see their home lives and stage life, and how they all mixed together. Each of the three get just the right amount of time to shine, while pushing the story forward. Fans will definitely enjoy seeing other famous performers like Snoop Dogg (Keith Stanfield) and Tupac (Marcc Rose) portrayed and sprinkled in throughout the film.
The movie’s power is found on numerous levels. Writers Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff do a great job of harnessing the intrinsic drama of the rise and fall of N.W.A. They started out as teens with a dream, and accomplished it! Yet, with the success came egos and issues surrounding money which led to the group splitting up. Another issue that the film deals with is violence against the black community from police officers. Unfortunately, almost 25 years after Rodney King, young black men are still a target of not just police batons but unwarranted bullets on what feels like a monthly occurrence in the news. So the energy that stems from perhaps their largest record, “F**k the Police”, sadly still resonates today.
The film paints a picture of N.W.A as fighters for free speech and self expression. While they spoke explicitly about their environment and the movie covers the media, FBI, and certain groups of people trying to suppress their message, it excludes the misogyny in their music. This was a large part of the protest in real life, but is conveniently left out in the motion picture. So the group looks more like oppressed freedom fighters, which works for Hollywood but some may take issue to.
Regardless of slight alterations or omissions, director F. Gary Gray captures and paints a masterpiece in this biopic. His camera frames the glamour of the come up, their wild lifestyle during the height of their success, and the ugliness of oppression. The pacing of the film is warranted even under the lengthy running time. The performances of these young actors are excellent. Entertaining, funny, and solemn at times, “Straight Outta Compton” is the perfect combination and a must see!
Rating: A