Uh oh. It’s a bad time for African-American heroes. One Night in Miami opens with all of our notables feeling pain: Cassius Clay gets knocked down by a punching bag, Jim Brown discovers superfans can also be superracists, Malcolm realizes the Nation of Islam might be overpopulated by one X, and Sam Cooke runs into some diamond-wearing jerk named “Rico” at the Copa.
Malcolm X (Kingsley Bin-Adir) is a downer. Let’s just start there, cuz, you knew he would be, right? The premise of this film is that on the very night that Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) claimed the heavyweight title of the world, he, Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Malcolm X, and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr) all got together for a private party. Seriously, one can easily see Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, and Sam Cooke having a party, but once you throw Malcolm X into the mix, you don’t have a party; you have a seminar. And, right on cue, when asked “Where’s the party?” Malcolm X pulls out vanilla ice cream. Congratulations, X, you’ve worked your way up to a friendless child’s birthday celebration.
This very ambitious film isn’t about party, of course. It’s about writer Kemp Powers and director Regina King imagining what would happen if you got four disparate legends in the same room together in February of 1964. This particular day coincides with the evening Cassius Clay embarrassed Sonny Liston in Miami to claim the heavyweight boxing crown. The film takes more than a little license here assuming Ali had no post-fight plans or that he suffered any pain from –you know- being in a boxing match with the heavyweight champion of the world; even if you win, you, I dunno, might need a aspirin or two. Jus’ sayin’.
And, predictably, as soon as the men get together the conversations are dominated by Malcolm X because he’s the greatest thinker and most serious adult in the room. At times, the film feels like The Malcolm X Show with tonight’s very special guests Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke and, time permitting, Jim Brown, yaaaaaaaay!
One thing I wondered about while watching this film was whether there was a popularity discrepancy among the legends. Like, for instance, you could put Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the same room right now and expect, I’m guessing, equal attention to be paid to each man…but the same wasn’t true in any year until LeBron won his first NBA title. How big were these guys in February of 1964? Well, Ali just became champ, so his rising star had immediately been established; Jim Brown played nine full seasons in the NFL of which he just had finished his 7th, a season in which he set the league record for yards rushed. It’s fair to say, Brown was an established legend. Sam Cooke and Malcolm X would both be dead within a year of this fantasy meet; it’s arguable that their legends grew out of premature deaths but it’s equally arguable that their deaths were the result of premature legend status.
In other words, it is fair to say that all of these men had a similar amount of ego and legend to stow in the overhead bin; it is reasonable that –barring entourage—they might act as peers. Unlikely, but reasonable.
One Night in Miami takes what seemed like a night in Miami to get rolling. The first hour is little more than name-dropping in film form. Ooooh, who is Jim Brown again? Remind us. The actions and conversations are f
rivolous. Even Ali’s title fight seems anti-climactic; we know he doesn’t lose or get hurt – he has the first chair on the Malcolm X Show. I did appreciate how this film was a converted play that didn’t feel like a play. Are you hearing me, August Wilson fans? Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom feel like plays. Boring plays. One Night in Miami feels different; oh, one can easily pick out the staged-version within, but this film took advantage of the fact that it could be set, literally, anywhere other than the exact same room all night.
When the showdown comes, the fireworks happen. As I say, it takes a while to get there, but when Malcolm X challenges Sam Cooke on the frivolity and shallow nature of his songs, that’s when a movie happens; that is when this exercise in name-dropping actually gives the audience something to think about. I enjoyed the picture from there on. Is it Best Picture material (like it’s being advertised)? HA! Don’t be silly. Well, I dunno, maybe in 2020 when I’m still waiting for about nine other quality films to round out my top 10. In any normal year of film, however, One Night in Miami is a gimmick film with a decent payoff and little more.
The fighter, the baller, the singer, and X
All met in Miami with cheer
Their exploits renowned in all of the world
Each man a famed cavalier
Their party was talk, an oratory summit
Little room for hijinks or beer
Though the meet was fictitious, one sad truth remains
Half would be dead in a year
Rated R, 114 Minutes
Director: Regina King
Writer: Kemp Powers
Genre: This is fiction, right?
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: People who enjoy seeing their heroes as human
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: The KKK
