Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Writer-director Ariel Vromen delivers an intense, tightly-paced heist thriller set against the backdrop of the L.A. riots that erupted April 29, 1992. During a watershed moment for the U.S., the LAPD officers who were videotaped beating Rodney King were acquitted. Los Angeles was soon engulfed by protest. Violent rioting and looting of businesses became rampant. But don’t expect much more from 1992 regarding that historical angle. Instead, it’s intent of delivering pulpy thrills as it follows a group, led by Lowell (Ray Liotta, in one of his final roles), conducting a robbery of a catalytic converter factory stocked with platinum bars.
One of the factory’s workers, Mercer (Tyrese Gibson, effectively understated), is sent home—along with the rest of the staff—due to worries of violence following the announcement of the verdict in the LAPD trial. His rebellious teenage son didn’t come home from school, so he ventures into the growing riot unfolding in the streets. Meanwhile, Lowell has convinced his sons Riggin (Scott Eastwood) and Dennis (Dylan Arnold) to join him in the risky factory robbery. Lowell presumes law enforcement will be so distracted by the rioting, the factory heist will fly well under the radar.
There are a few issues with the plot mechanics. Placing Mercer and his son Antoine (a sensitive Christopher Ammanuel) at the factory, as Lowell and his gang are boosting it, feels contrived. I guess they felt safer there than going home. And again, using the riots as the ‘MacGuffin’ is arguably exploitative. Vromen’s film isn’t particularly concerned with the deeper sociological context of those controversial events. The streets of L.A. are in flames primarily to serve the plot (and add an admittedly effectively chaotic atmosphere).
All that said, 1992 is exciting and engrossing. The performances are far better than the material requires. At it’s heart, it’s a story about fathers and sons. The arc of Mercer and Antoine is the highlight. Mercer’s own criminal background plays a role here. The bitterness Antoine feels towards his father slowly recedes as he learns more about Mercer’s true character. Less effective is the handling of Lowell’s interactions with his sons. It feels like a chunk of backstory is missing. Lowell is such an obvious madman, it’s puzzling why his sons feel any sense of obligation or loyalty to him. Liotta’s portrayal, however, is scarily effective.
Lionsgate’s 1992 Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack includes a few supplements for those interested in delving deeper. Director Vromen sits for a commentary track with one of the film’s producers, T’Shaun Barrett. There are a couple of featurettes. “A South Central Story” is typical promotional fare, but “Two Families, Two Worlds: Making 1992” is a more substantive look at the production. A couple of deleted scenes round out the package.
1992 is a solid action thriller and well worth seeking out for fans of the late Ray Liotta. Both Tyrese Gibson and Christopher Ammanuel add a welcome layer of emotion to the proceedings.
