8. “One Night in Miami” – On Feb. 25, 1964, Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) knocks out Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion at age 22. Afterward, Cassius, Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) get together at the Hampton House Hotel for an evening of conversation. Believe it or not, these four icons truly did meet that night, and screenwriter Kemp Powers (based on his play) imagines their discourse in a mesmerizing, intricate feature that leaves you hanging on every word. Director Regina King’s film mostly transpires in a modest room, but grand viewpoints burst through the walls and off the screen as the men recognize the moment in American history and their positions in it. Goree, Ben-Adir, Hodge, and Odom Jr. deliver convincing performances that will surely lead to more than one Best Actor or Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Image and Trailer credits: Amazon Studios
