British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir (Peaky Blinders) plays Malcolm X. Sam Cooke, and Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami. As they argue, it becomes clear that Malcolm's relentless antagonism of the singer is motivated, at least in part, by the activist's stress over his own life, especially his harassment by the FBI and his fears about his schism with Elijah Muhammad. The official lyric video for "Speak Now" was released January 4, 2021. Leslie Odom Jr., who previously starred as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” is Sam Cooke, the King of Soul, and Aldis Hodge is football legend Jim Brown. On Amazon Is Proof Leslie Odom Jr. Is a Movie Star ... Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Odom Jr.) in a hotel room, the night after Ali won the heavyweight title over Sonny Liston. [17], Amazon Studios acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film in July 2020. Malcolm harshly ridicules the bland, feel-good music Cooke has produced since finding mainstream success. Release. It stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. in the lead roles, with Joaquina Kalukango, Nicolette Robinson, Beau Bridges and Lance Reddick in supporting roles. @leslieodomjr dazzles audiences, both on and off screen, with his portrayal of music artist Sam Cooke. In further conversation, Brown discusses his plans to become a film actor, and wonders if his transition from football to Hollywood will go smoothly. [18] It was announced for a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2020, followed by its streaming release on Prime Video on January 15. [9] It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival,[10] where it was the runner-up for the People's Choice Award. Arrogant and overconfident, Clay plays with his opponent and is knocked to the mat when Cooper lands a surprise punch. Cooke insists his business success and creative autonomy is itself an inspiration to the black community, and while he still cares about the black struggle in America, protest music is not commercially viable. One Night in Miami’s Leslie Odom Jr. tells us about the great responsibility playing Sam Cooke and why he’s so excited for Central Park Season 2. Clay angrily refuses, feeling betrayed by his mentor, and wondering if his conversion has just been a plot by Malcolm to attract attention to his new project. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising King's direction, the performances, and the screenplay. News; World News – USA – CMU alum Leslie Odom Jr Channels Sam Cooke in “One Night in Miami” Malcolm is devastated to learn that Clay is having second thoughts about his conversion. He wants to spend some time reflecting on their collective accomplishments, but tension between him and Cooke arises immediately. Leslie Odom Jr. has spoken about the challenge of portraying Sam Cooke on the big screen in the forthcoming film One Night In Miami. Leslie Odom, Jr. Afterward, Malcolm invites the other three men to his motel room. Up-and-coming "Riverdale" actor Eli Goree takes on the role of Ali, while "Straight Outta Compton" actor Aldis Hodge portrays footballer Jim Brown and Tony-winning "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom Jr. is playing singer Sam Cooke. [5][6], Principal photography began in January 2020, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 39-year-old portrays Sam Cooke in the film and is tipped to score nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song for 'Speak Now', the movie's soulful anthem Odom co-wrote and performed in the end credits. Based off the award-winning play of the same name by Kemp Powers, the film imagines a fictional night in 1964 where Muhammad Ali (Eli Goree), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) discuss race, religion, and their personal responsibility to the civil rights movement. Directed by If … Their conversation reveals that, after the fight, Clay will announce publicly he has joined the Nation of Islam. That night, Brown is a ringside commentator and Cooke and Malcolm are in the crowd as Clay upsets Liston, making him the world heavyweight champion. [citation needed], (Type "One Night in Miami" in the search box), "Regina King makes history at Venice film festival with One Night in Miami", "Regina King To Direct Adaptation Of 'One Night In Miami, "Regina King Directing Debut 'One Night In Miami' Underway With Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge & Leslie Odom Jr As '60s Icons", "John Wick' & 'Bosch' Actor Lance Reddick Joins Regina King-Directed 'One Night in Miami, "Why Leslie Odom Jr. was hesitant to play Sam Cooke in 'One Night in Miami, "Venice Film Festival Adds Pedro Almodovar's 'The Human Voice', Regina King's 'One Night In Miami, "Toronto Sets 2020 Lineup: Werner Herzog, Regina King, Mira Nair, Francois Ozon, Naomi Kawase Titles Join Hybrid Edition", "Zurich Fest Sets Galas for 'The Courier,' 'One Night in Miami,' 'Nomadland' | Hollywood Reporter", "London Film Fest Adds Regina King's 'One Night in Miami' | Hollywood Reporter", "Regina King's 'One Night in Miami' to Close Hamptons Film Festival", "Chicago International Film Festival goes digital AND outdoors, featuring 'Belushi,' Rachel Brosnahan, Kate Winslet, 'One Night in Miami' and 'Nomadland, "Amazon Picks Up Regina King's Feature Directorial Debut 'One Night In Miami' About Young Cassius Clay – TIFF", "Regina King's 'One Night in Miami' to Release in Theaters on Christmas, Amazon Prime in 2021", "Regina King's 'One Night In Miami' Sets Christmas Day Theatrical Release", "For the city that started it all. Nearly a year ago the film Only starring actor Leslie Odom Jr. premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.. And during that year, it was certainly a different time, as we fervently wash our hands more now than we ever have before and stock up on hand sanitizer in wake of the coronavirus — a virus which has led to illness and death all over the world. The actor talks equal pay and Black Lives Matter. CHANNELING GREATNESS: Leslie Odom Jr. is orchestrating double Oscar buzz for “One Night in Miami,” in which he plays soul music savant Sam Cooke and … [3] It was released in limited theaters by Amazon Studios, starting on December 25, 2020, before being released digitally on Prime Video on January 15, 2021. ✨, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Malcolm is uncomfortable with how he thinks Cooke has sold out the black community by pandering to white audiences, and Cooke refuses to feel guilty for his success. "[25] Owen Gleiberman of Variety praised the characters and the film's parallels to modern day, writing: "One Night in Miami is a casually entrancing debate about power on the part of those who have won it but are still figuring out what to do with it. In July 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported Regina King would direct and executive produce filming Powers' screenplay. "[23] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 83 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Why Leslie Odom Jr. was hesitant to play Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami By Marcus Jones September 15, 2020 at 12:01 PM EDT Clay memorialized the event with three of his friends: Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). [7], In September 2020, Leslie Odom Jr. said he had co-written the original song for the film, "Speak Now" with Nashville songwriter Sam Ashworth. As Clay prepares to talk to the media, he asks Malcolm to come with him. Soul singer Sam Cooke is the kind of role most actors dream of: a dynamic real-life figure in a timely period drama ("One Night in Miami"), directed by a beloved actress-turned-filmmaker (Regina King). Photos by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images and Amazon Studios. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2020, a first for an African-American female director. Malcolm confronts him with the recent success of Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind and wonders why a "white kid" from Minnesota can find an audience for social commentary but Cooke cannot. In the aftermath of the night in Miami, Clay officially changes his name to Muhammed Ali, while Malcolm's life is thrown into chaos as he suffers the consequences of his split with the Nation of Islam; his house is firebombed, but he completes his autobiography. ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI is in select theaters nationwide January 8 and streaming on @PrimeVideo January 15", Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable's Malcolm X, The Rumble in the Jungle (Foreman vs. Ali), The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay, I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, Ferdie Pacheco (personal physician, cornerman), San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_Night_in_Miami_(film)&oldid=1001152039, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 13:13. Movie News What ‘Pains’ Leslie Odom Jr. About One Night In Miami’s Sam Cooke. At the Copacabana in New York City, soul singer Sam Cooke suffers through a humiliating performance in front of a cold, all-white audience. Returning home to Georgia, NFL player Jim Brown is warmly received by family friend Mr. Carlton on a vast plantation estate. The film ends with a title card with a quote from Malcolm X about the inevitability of martyrs for the cause, noting that he was assassinated on February 21, 1965. Jan. 15—If you're a Pittsburgher planning on checking out "One Night in Miami" this weekend on Amazon Prime, make sure you pay particularly close attention to one of the four legends conversing in the room where it happens. [4] In January 2020, King announced casting Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr., and Lance Reddick in the lead roles. Jim Brown leaves the NFL to pursue his movie career. The “Hamilton” star is currently the GoldDerby favorite to be nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar. "I said, 'No, thank you,' respectfully,'" says Odom, … [8] The official lyric video for "Speak Now" was released January 4, 2021. Leslie Odom Jr. On Playing Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami [Exclusive Interview] #film #interviews #lrmexclusives #news #streaming #amazonoriginal #amazonprime #leslieodomjr #onenightinmiami Played by the actor, Broadway star and jazz artist Leslie Odom Jr., Cooke talks in the film about returning to the Copa to win over the fancy-room people. [24], Kate Erbland of IndieWire gave the film an "A–" and said that "Yes, One Night in Miami often looks like the play it's based on, but King and her stars make the most of any stage-y limitations, and the filmmaker frequently turns her eye to well-assembled overhead shots and a graceful use of mirrors to keep her many characters in the frame all at once. And the result is a powerful, moving movie that has already garnered Oscar buzz, particularly for actor Leslie Odom Jr. Malcolm tells Clay that he would not blame him for turning on him. Sings Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and 'Hamilton' in a Game of Song Association ... Leslie Odom, Jr. has long proven his talents in … Check out Hamilton Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. as singer Sam Cooke in the new trailer for One Night in Miami… above. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2020. When they leave, Cooke tells Brown that he has had similar thoughts about Blowin' in the Wind, and has already written a song, but not yet performed it. Leslie Odom Jr., who portrays him in the movie, spoke with Screen Rant about the impact Cooke had during his time and the intense scenes he shared with his costars. [citation needed], The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2020. Unlimited access to all content on usatoday.com, Early access to commenting on select articles, The Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox daily. In September 2020, Leslie Odom Jr. said he had co-written the original song for the film, "Speak Now" with Nashville songwriter Sam Ashworth. You do such a remarkable job of playing Sam Cooke. Election News In 1963, Cassius Clay fights Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium in London. "[26], At TIFF, the film was named first runner up for the People's Choice Award. In the middle of their confrontation, a knock at the door informs them that the press has gotten wind of the meeting. Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. reveals why playing Sam Cooke in Regina King's One Night In Miami was his most 'challenging' role to date. One Night in Miami…is now playing at the Landmark at Merrick Park", "Come on and let the good times roll! But initially, Leslie Odom Jr. turned it down. [19][20] The film premiered on December 25, only exclusively at the Landmark Theatre at Merrick Park in Miami,[21] before further expanding to select nationwide theaters on January 8, 2021, the week prior to its streaming release. Cooke debuts "A Change Is Gonna Come" on The Tonight Show. Carlton ladles praise on “the great Jim Brown,” but when Brown kindly offers to help Carlton move some furniture, he casually informs Brown that they “don't allow niggers in the house.” Elsewhere, Malcolm X returns home from a meeting and nervously discusses his plans to leave the Nation of Islam with his wife, Betty. The men arrive in high spirits, but their hopes of a party are dashed when the teetotaling Malcolm makes it clear they are the only ones he invited. ️, Oscars [22], On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 251 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. One Night in Miami... is a 2020 American drama film about a fictionalized meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke in a room at the Hampton House in February 1964, celebrating Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston. Months later on February 25, 1964, the men are all in Miami for Clay's title bout against Sonny Liston. He tells Clay that he is planning to form his own organization and asks the boxer to join. Leslie Odom Jr has explained why he initially turned down the role of singer Sam Cooke in One Night In Miami. This image released by Amazon Studios shows Leslie Odom Jr., from left, Eli Goree, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Aldis Hodge in a scene from "One Night in Miami." Leslie Odom Jr. ("Hamilton") stars in Amazon's "One Night in Miami" as Black soul legend Sam Cooke. As the evening progresses, the verbal conflict between Malcolm and Cooke escalates. It is the first feature directed by Regina King, from a screenplay by Kemp Powers based on his stage play of the same name. One of the less talked-out activists, though, was soul singer Sam Cooke. [11] It has screened or been scheduled to screen at film festivals in Zurich,[12] London,[13] the Hamptons,[14] Mill Valley, Middleburg,[15] Chicago[16] and Montclair. The way the … Clay informs the men of his plans to announce his conversion to the Nation of Islam, causing more tension. The website's critics consensus reads: "A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut. Malcolm meets with Clay in a hotel room before the fight, and the two pray in a traditional Islamic fashion. Joining the boxer and the minister in a modest suite at the Hampton House motel are the Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and the singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.). 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