Movie Review: ‘1992’ Starring Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood
- Details
- Category: New Series and Movie Reviews
- Published: Monday, 02 September 2024 11:51
- Written by Lupe R Haas
Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood star in 1992 alongside the late Ray Liotta in his last film before his passing. Surprisingly, for a low-budget film, 1992 is riveting with fascinating characters and a backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Premise
A father and son (Eastwood, Liotta) team plan a heist during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and cross paths with Mercer (Gibson) an ex-con and single father desperately trying to stay out of trouble along with his son.
The 1992 riots is a great setting for a heist story. Director and co-writer Ariel Vromen (CRIMINAL) and his cowriter Sascha Penn (CREED II, POWER BOOK III) don’t address the riots directly but let the news footage inform the viewer and the characters make small talk yet powerful statements that define the character’s stance.
Watch Scott Eastwood Interview
Characters
1992 is more character-driven than action-driven. You quickly care about the main characters on both sides.
Tyrese Gibson often portrays wise-cracking characters. In 1992, The Fast and Furious actor plays Mercer, a reformed convict determined to break the cycle of violence and prevent his son from following in his footsteps.
Like Mercer, Eastwood’s Riggin character is a father figure to his younger brother who follows him around like a puppy. The two continue the family business of thievery with their criminal father (Liotta) calling the shots.
Action
For a heist movie, action is minimal with most of it occurring in the latter part of the movie. The action isn’t as riveting as the character-driven drama, but that’s what the movie has going for it. As far as heist dramas go, it’s not a particularly original sting.
Plausibility
1992 suffers from plausibility issues. The platinum-producing plant in South Central Los Angeles is under high security, yet the thieves can penetrate the compound without much interference. While police presence was zero in the area during the actual riot after the police officers were acquitted in the beating of the Rodney King trial, it’s not believable that only two security guards were on the entire premises.
Another unbelievable factor in 1992 is Mercer working in a high-security facility with a felony on his record.
Payoff
At an hour and 36 minutes, the pacing moves quickly and the action pays off although the outcome is predictable once you meet the characters.
Production Value
The movie has a gritty look with low lighting that contributes to the atmosphere and backdrop of the Los Angeles unrest in 1992.
As someone from South Los Angeles, the Los Angeles streets are accurately captured and the community is represented.
Recommendation
1992 is suspenseful and a good thriller worth your time.