One Night in Miami - 3 nominations

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Leslie Odom Jr.

Best Adapted Screenplay - Kemp Powers (screenplay by)

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) Leslie Odom Jr. (music and lyric by)  Sam Ashworth (music and lyric by)  For song "Speak Now"

I have been eagerly awaiting this post about a movie that I loved so much.  The story imagines a night after newly minted Muslim Muhammad Ali wins a big fight in which four friends gather - Cassius Clay (Eli Goree, and Cassius is still going back and forth on his name), Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), and Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr) to celebrate, to reflect on the civil rights movement, the role of celebrity and using one's voice to speak out against injustice, and even to decide the age-old question, is it enough to succeed despite obstacles like systemic and overt racism, or must one use one's celebrity for the cause?  And isn't that so relevant in the age when celebrities are criticized for using their platforms, while simultaneously knowing that change comes with those with privilege speak out.  (It's "shut up and sing" versus "silence equals complicity.")

Everything about this film is magic.  Regina King's directorial debut is magnificent, and honestly, I'm just furious she was overlooked in the Director category.  It feels like a play but also one that has been perfectly adapted to the screen.  I could easily have awarded the first-ever 4-way tie Oscars to the four men on screen for lead actor (despite Odom's having been relegated to the Supporting Actor category).  The song is powerful but in the perfect Leslie Odom Jr way - the man can deliver a sledgehammer of a song with a softness that kills me.  The song makes me cry every time I hear it - because truly people, is there anything more relevant than "SPEAK NOW" as a call to action?

In addition to King's unforgivable snub, I would have liked more acting nominations, an editing nomination, a cinematography nomination, and an original score nomination.  I'm disappointed that this film hasn't gotten more PR and the attention that it truly deserves.  In a year when Mank can get 10 Oscar nominations, it's absurd that One Night in Miami totals out at 3.  See this film.  And, if it truly inspires you, I highly recommend the documentary, "The Two Killings of Sam Cooke" which examines Cooke's life in much more depth.

Hear the nominated song, "Speak Now" here.

See the trailer here.