‘One Night in Miami:’ A Strong Directorial Debut For Regina King

Regina King’s directorial debut hit Amazon Prime, garnering much deserved buzz in these movie-premiere-dampened COVID streets. One Night in Miami is a fictional account of a real night in February where Malcolm X, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke and Muhammed Ali Cassius Clay all met up at a hotel in Miami. The conversations and provocations that ensue alter the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement as each man emerges a distant stranger from the person who originally entered that room in 1964.

The Colossal Collective The movie is adapted from Kemp Powers’ play of the same name. Powers’ decision to put these four men in room for 90 minutes, play with the dynamics of each of their predicaments and positions of power was bold and well received. Luckily, his screenplay brings the same balance and intrigue that resulted in praise when the play premiered in 2013. Not to mention, this foursome blows away any collection of men that could be put together in today’s era. The closest equivalent I can think of would be putting Barack Obama, LeBron James, Kendrick Lamar and Colin Kaepernick together and letting the sparks fly. Still doesn’t come close to the gravity of the men who inspire this riveting tale. Which is why I keep coming back to the conclusion that Regina King made an incredibly smart decision when she chose to bring One Night in Miami to life as her directorial debut.

“It’s a beautiful story of brotherhood, just a display of Black men expressing themselves healthily in a spac…