Review: 1992

1992, directed by Ariel Vromen and produced by Snoop Dogg, is a tense thriller set against the backdrop of the Rodney King riots. The story follows two families. Mercer (Tyrese Gibson) who has just been released from prison and is struggling to take care of his son Antoine (Christopher Ammanuel) and Riggin (Scott Eastwood), a criminal who is trying to convince his father Lowell (Ray Liotta), to pull off a heist at a factory that creates catalytic converters. Mercer just so happens to work at that factory, and in an attempt to keep his son out of harm’s way during the riots, the two hide out there only to be caught up in Riggin’s plan to steal the converters that are worth 10 million dollars because of the platinum in them.

The first act intricately intertwines the lives of these two families, and as the narrative unfolds, these threads become entangled, leading to an explosive climax. The script is packed with rich characterizations and motivations for each individual on screen, fostering a sense of empathy for every character.

As the villain, Liotta is menacing in his final theatrical feature. His over-the-top character is a stark contrast to Tyrese Gibson’s Mercer. This may be Gibson’s best performance to date. In one of his most impressive roles, he showcases his dramatic acting chops.

1992 is an intense story that is well-acted and well-directed. The plot has a great build-up centered around a historical event. The whole story feels like it’s in a pressure cooker, with each dynamic creating a greater intensity that’s about to burst at the seams. While there is an explosive scene towards the end, the actual ending is a little anti-climactic, making this thriller feel dull.