Director and co-writer Ariel Vroman (The Iceman, The Criminal) of the screenplay with Sascha Penn (Creed II) have created a drama- heist thriller that is worth the watch. If anyone is curious about the title 1992, the filmmakers have set this in Los Angeles the day the police officers were determined to be “not guilty” in the Rodney King case. Going back to those days via the footage used in the film is quite stirring as the community rose up in anger. If someone is too young to have knowledge of those events that led up to it, this is the time to do some research. It is too memorable for many others who remember.
Someone may say they may not be up to watching a heist film, but there are more reasons to view the film, not only historical, but the great performances by these actors. This is Ray Liotta’s last film, and he is simply his best as the character Lowell.
Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) is an ex-con who was released six months earlier and now has a full-time job at a plant. He is raising a teenage son, Antoine (Christopher Ammanuel, “Black Lightning”) with efforts to keep him from going down the life path that took him to jail. During the workday, word is received about the verdict of the officer’s trial in the King case. Mercer knows full well how bad the violence can be and hurries home to have Antoine with him in the safety of the plant, approved by the head of security and his long-term friend, Joseph Francis (Michael Beasley).
In the meantime, two thieves, Riggin (Scott Eastwood) and his friend, Copeland (Clé Bennett, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”), are planning a bigger job than usual. Riggin’s younger brother, Dennis (Dylan Arnold, Oppenheimer) is learning the ropes, but is still inexperienced. Riggin decides to approach their father, Lowell, about the job and planning for it. It may have been something way over their head to steal millions of dollars’ worth of metal, but they see all the chaos in town and see it as the perfect time to hit the plant. Yes, that plant where Mercer works and where he is headed.
Lowell is a career criminal and abusive father of Riggin and Dennis, so that family has their set of issues. Mercer is trying to steer Antoine in a direction away from violence and gangs, but the teen pushes away from his father, feeling caged with little freedom. The whole ride from their apartment toward the plant is in and of itself challenging for Mercer and quite the lesson for Antoine as they are confronted by the local police and pulled over, while others are just waved on. Yes, the research suggested earlier about the LAPD and the King case in that era is something that viewers will recognize as the father and son go through the questioning.
By the time Mercer arrives at the plant, the thieves have already created their own chaos to get to the big payoff. When Mercer discovers that the thieves have his son, the action starts at a faster speed than when the criminals arrived at the plant.
Gibson has been known to be a different character in the Fast and Furious and Transformers films and one that many people enjoy as the dialogue leans more to the comedic side. The role in 1992 provides him with the opportunity to show his talent as a dramatic actor, as well as in the role of a father. Mercer is excellent in the role and appears very authentic.
The film is rated R for the violence and the runtime is one hour and 36 minutes.
The film is available in theaters Friday, August 30, 2024.
Source: Lionsgate
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