One Night in Miami

THE GIST: Four of the most famous and recognizable Black people of the '60s come together to catch up and discuss their roles in the Civil Rights movement and the culture at large.

At the end of One Night in Miami, when the credits roll, I read that it is based on a theater play and I wasn't surprised. In fact, the first half, setting the scene and introducing the characters, feels a bit stuffy, in spite of the big historical names.

The second half, however, easily makes up for it, bringing the drama to the inevitable closing message about the assassination of Malcom X.

Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. are all very good. The latter, along with the screenplay and an original song, was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Certainly interesting overall, if you do decide to watch this, make sure to get past the first half.

Grade: 7