Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

You might flash on Regina King as Cuba Gooding Jr’s fierce wife in the Jerry Maguire movie, but flash-forward to her 2019 Oscar win for IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK. Follow that with her directorial turn in ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… to be released on Jan. 15 as an Amazon Original, and fierce has new meaning.

Adapted from the same-titled play by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the screenplay, King may have just topped herself in the jump from TV directing to an award-season ready “directed by” feature film credit.

In ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, all events converge in a hotel room for Muhammad Ali, (Eli Goree), who fells heavy weight title-holder Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall, as he shares the win and its ramifications with none other than Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). Beau Bridges also plays a role here. It is 1964, and the world was on fire then too.

First Look Here… “Before they were icons, they were friends.”

Amazon’s Official Recap

On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. When underdog Cassius Clay, soon to be called Muhammad Ali, (Eli Goree), defeats heavy weight champion Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall, Clay memorialized the event with three of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge).

Based on the award-winning play of the same name, and directed by Regina King, One Night In Miami... is a fictional account inspired by the historic night these four formidable figures spent together. It looks at the struggles these men faced and the vital role they each played in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 1960s. More than 40 years later, their conversations on racial injustice, religion, and personal responsibility still resonate.

Make sure to catch the meteoric path of Director Regina King through this tumultuous 2021 Award Season. While the red carpets may not be there, the excellent projects will still roll out with surprises and thrills, like this one.

Directed by Regina King

Written by Kemp Powers

Based on the Stage Play “One Night In Miami...” by Kemp Powers

Produced by Jess Wu Calder, Keith Calder, Jody Klein

Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom, Jr., Joaquina Kalukango, Nicolette Robinson with Beau Bridges and Lance Reddick

Visit here.

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