Based on a 2013 play of the same name, Regina King‘s first major feature directorial outing One Night in Miami brings the real-life 1964 meeting of Cassius Clay (Eli Goree), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) to life. As the men spend the evening together, they talk about a wide range of topics and push each other on various issues and philosophies. With a clearly complex and difficult adaptation from stage to screen, Regina King impresses greatly with One Night in Miami. Perfectly knowing when to play into its original identity and when to adjust to fit the cinematic realm better.
This is felt nowhere more than the screenplay by Kemp Powers. Powers wrote the original stage play and the influence of the original is felt throughout the feature. From the limited locations to the flow of dialogue, One Night in Miami feels like a play put onto the big screen in the best of ways.
There is a powerful sense of poetry in the dialogue and how the characters bounce off of each other that is rarely seen off the stage. It is dynamic and well crafted, not only acting as the main piece of the film to captivate audiences, but also in its ability to bring these larger than life characters to life.
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Where there have been iconic portrayals of these characters previously, never before have they all been brought together and any attempt to capture their iconic personas risks not doing the legendary figures justice. One Night in Miami does succeed in these portrayals, though for a number of reasons.
Not only does the screenplay perfectly dramatize them while also keeping their identities clear, but the performances behind them are incredibly well crafted. From the cocky charisma of Eli Goree, to the thoughtful philosophy and inspiring nature of Kingsley Ben-Adir. Every single actor feels inspired in their performances, again blending the iconic characteristics of their roles alongside the demands of the plot flawlessly. They are both paying respect to the classic cinematic interpretations, while putting in the effort to stand out as unique and original.
With the nature of the film and its screenplay, these performances needed to be engaging for audiences. As with the limited sets and overall drama, it is the back and forth that is going to be what has to hook audiences for the film’s 111-minute runtime, but the craft of both the screenplay and performances succeed in this difficult task.
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All this comes together above all else to prove the talents of Regina King as a director. One Night in Miami is an incredibly difficult film to make with its ties both to the theater and historical context both on-screen and in the real world. Despite this, King clearly has a vision and confidently stays with it, never losing faith or feeling too inexperienced to pull it off.
Many new directors might struggle with even simple material, or succeed with a completely original idea that they can build and understand on a deeper level. King has to work with someone else’s vision and immediately jumps into the deep end of the cinematic pool, only to swim at a nearly Olympic level right off the bat.
This artistry is also felt in the technical elements of the film. The limited sets also seems to limit what the film could accomplish visually with its cinematography from Tami Reiker, but the film again has the quality to overcome this. The cinematography within the film is some of the best of the entire year, with some striking shot composition that is thoughtful and artistically fulfilling.
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It is perfectly cinematic while also feeling grounded, elevating the overall material without going too far to expose the limits it has to work around. Composer Terence Blanchard also continues his string of standout works with a subtle yet moving score that stands out without taking away the spotlight from the screenplay or feeling distracting.
To say that One Night in Miami is impressive would be an understatement. This is a film that so easily could have fallen apart if even a single element was not performing to an incredibly high level. Yet every piece of the film is truly inspired. This is easily one of the most well-crafted films of the year and with both a theatrical and VOD release on the horizon, this is an essential watch as we approach the end of the year.
