Latest “Remastered” episode captures the heart and soul of Sam Cooke

“Darling, you send me.”

This Sinatra-smooth ode to love is perhaps what Sam Cooke is most known for. With a distinctively sweet tenor, the musician was able to transcend racial and musical boundaries. His legacy as an activist, however, is often overshadowed by his bizarre death.

Netflix’s latest “Remastered” episode works to change that.

Directed by Kelly Duane de la Vega, “The Two Killings of Sam Cooke” is anything but one note. Harmonizing his role as a singer and activist, the documentary spins a fresh look at his life but falls short of providing closure to the question of what really happened to Sam Cooke.

The film chronicles the Cooke’s early beginnings from his days in gospel to becoming one of RCA’s biggest sellers, second only to Elvis Presley. Whether it was in the pews of a church with the Soul Stirrers or his transition into the “devil’s music,” women were lining up to see the musician.

That, however, was never enough for the “King of Soul”.

Cooke eventually created a record label company where black performers could escape the greedy clutches of music executives. He was a businessman, but during an era defined by racial injustice, it wasn’t all about money for him — it was about using his platform to make a statement.

Vega pinpoints the singer’s legacy by recounting his refusal to perform at a segregated theater and powerful friendship with Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Muhammed Ali that placed him on the FBI watch list.

With a detailed view of Cooke’s life, the film intimately relives the complexity of a singer who rose to fame while speaking his truth. Yet, the occurrence in 1964 leading to his death remains a mystery.

It is still unknown what exactly happened that night at the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, California where the artist was shot by the manager, Bertha Franklin during a heated confrontation. Without much investigation, the case was ruled a justified homicide and left many suspicious.

This documentary may leave viewers with more questions about the performer’s sudden death, but there is no questioning the impact the artist made on and off the stage. Rather than simply tell viewers about musician’s influence, it allows his artistry to do the talking.

Cooke’s “Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963,” was initially delayed by RCA for being too black and unrelatable, yet is brilliantly placed at the forefront of the film.

By juxtaposing a James Brown-esque rendition of “You Send Me” with footage of the suit-wearing Cooke singing the familiar smooth ballad, it illustrates the artist’s ability to navigate both the white and black spaces of a segregated society.

In a melody of interviews with academics, friends, Cooke, and influential members of the music industry spanning from Dionne Warwick to Smokey Robinson, the documentary sings the complex tune of the late icon.

Stunning, yet sometimes disturbing, images and audio are weaved throughout to capture the essence of, as a Duke professor describes in the film, a “complicated black man in a complicated world.”

Unfortunately, the film isn’t the FBI and fails to offer any new information regarding the artist’s death. Instead, it remains a case surrounded by conspiracy theories that seem to be rushed out within the last 10 minutes of the film.

One thing that becomes clear is the African-American community’s frustration with the Los Angeles Police Department’s lack of a thorough investigation.

That frustration over disregard for black life, like the lyrics of “A Change is Gonna Come,” feels as if it rings true even to this day.

Netflix’s latest film could have easily turned into another true crime documentary, but instead allows Cooke’s life to take center stage. While the documentary cannot provide answers about the musician’s death, it shines by resurrecting the often-forgotten legacy he left behind.

“ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke” is currently available on Netflix.