One Night in Miami... (2020)

Regina King has done it yet again.

After exhibiting an unparalleled level of talent onscreen, in her rightfully awarded performances in both HBO’s Watchmen and Barry Jenkin’s If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King has now stepped behind camera to prove that there are few things she cannot do. One Night in Miami... is her first foray into direction, and the success of the movie can be likened to someone doing a triple axel their first time trying on ice skates. Although she worked directed for television shows such as Scandal, the leap to a major movie such as this is monumentally difficult. Without mincing words, if Regina King does not win an Oscar for this movie you will be hearing from me about it.

Why is this movie so important? Well first, let’s flashback to to the distant year of 2019, when Hollywood stood up and applauded itself for awarding the film Green Book with the highest cinematic honor, Best Picture. This movie, which was written and directed by white men, attempted to tell a story of unity between Black and White, specifically, between a young Tony Lip, and legendary musician Don Shirley. The film ultimately failed to impress the actual family of Don Shirley and many viewers as a whole. Looking at a shot of the cast and crew will tell you exactly why.