source: 892

John Boyega even bears a striking resemblance to Denzel Washington while simulating the borrowed mannerisms and speech patterns he performs with great aplomb. Michael Kenneth Williams shows one last time why his character artistry is so profoundly missed. Not the first time this story, or one nearly identicle to it has been told, but the underlying theme bears repeating. And until the very apparatus that was created to care for all Americans who served this country can be reasonably adequate in addressing the problems assocated with modern warfare and combat in general, tragedies like this will continue to occur.

Breaking is an intense and emotional film, filled with many levels of suspense that constantly grab the audience's attention. Breaking, based on a true story, follows the main character Brian (John Boyega), an ex-Marine struggling after being discharged due to injury. After being turned down for financial support by the Veteran Affairs office, Brian has had enough. In order to get money he feels his only choice is to lock himself in a bank with two of its employees as hostages. While doing so, Brian manages to get the attention of police officers, FBI agents, firefighters and newscasters in order to make his situation known to the VA offices. Breaking has an outstanding storyline. The execution of the meaning and message behind it-about how dysfunctional the VA offices can be- is done really well. It definitely has an effect on audiences and educates us on this extremely important topic. Furthermore, the acting in this film is phenomenal-every single actor has such strong talent. They really lock you in with their words and emotions. Brian's character, especially, has so many different layers to him, and each one is showcased so well, and feels so believable. Finally, Abi Damaris Corbin's direction is one of my favorite aspects of the movie. Each angle feels so specific and his direction sets the tone strongly. For instance, a scene would zoom in on particular things, which not only highlights those actions, but makes the film feel overall more realistic and natural. The message of Breaking is to never give up on what you believe is right. This film includes profanity and gunshots. I give Breaking 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST!

Escalate or diffuse ? Overwhelming force or appropriate response to a human being in crisis ? The reviews here are not that positive ; I disagree. This is a poignant story rendered capably and one that keeps the story moving and interesting not to mention outstanding acting by all the characters portrayed. That's the point of my review , a movie with a compelling story. If you are up for fantasy and 'cartoon' movies , then look elsewhere. If you up for a real movie , by all means go to see this one. The story is different but it reminds me of the Clint Eastwood produced movie :' Richard Jewel' and , that was, IMO a good movie . And please remember when you see a one star review to click on the link for the user of the the one star review because more often than not it is a one and done user review in other words , a troll posting a bad review and to put it mildly : insincere, sincerely yours an actual person who watched the movie and posted in my imdb blog .

Powerful story with great cast! The story of Brian Easley should be heard by every American. John Boyega and Michael K Williams were phenomenal. Amazing film that should be played over and over again.

BRAVO! Standing Ovation... ...is how I felt when the credits came on at the end. Your heart will flutter throughout .892's message hits like a pile of bricks and nearly brings you to tears, but you channel the strength of the veteran and hold the tears back. Incredible performance by John Boyega, and the cinematography is some of the best I've seen in a while. This is one of the most distinguished takes on the intense difficulty of veterans re-adjusting to life back home. You feel for the character and want to just reach out to help and cry at the same time. Absolutely moving film and would recommend to all who love a movie with substance and want to understand some of the pain fellow service members feel even when they're back with us. Incredibly well done, Abi Damaris Corbin, One of her best.

Great acting and directing - I was fully engaged the entire time and enjoyed it way more than I expected. More people need to think about how our veterans are treated and how we as a society Looking forward to more from this team.

Reel Tunez Movie Review (8/28/22): "Breaking" This movie is about a veteran who is seriously wronged by the V. A. Administration and takes matters into his own hands. It's based on a true story. First the acting was VERY good.. and John Boyege (playing the lead role as Brian Brown-Easley) does a phenomenal job acting the role. His "hostages", played by Nicole Beharie and Selenis Leyva, do an incredible job acting as well. But with that said, it's teased as a "Modern-Day Dog Day Afternoon".. and THAT it's not. It's a sad story of how we treat veterans (full disclosure, I'm former Air Force), and a sadder story of post-traumatic stress and its affect on our military. The problem with this movie is it feels a lot more like a documentary with little "augmentation" to make it "movie material". It's pretty cut & dry.. though certain tragic and sad. Pacing is slow, and the telling of this story feels very incomplete. Outside of WHY Brian Brown-Easley did what he did, the back-story is barely touched upon. I don't consider it a good movie, but I do think it's an important story to know. It also should instill in all of us the need to MAKE politicians do the right thing and SUPPORT our veterans to thank them for their service (especially those who saw fighting or affected by their service). On a 1-10 scale, I'd give the movie a 4.2 (thought the importance of knowing the story a 9). I give the story the 4.2 because the acting was excellent, but the movie incomplete and slow. At a "History Channel" program, I'd have given it a 8.5 for realism and telling the story, but as a "go-to-the-movies motion picture", sorry.. no way. This MOVIE has higher (10 out of 10??? WTH?!!) reviews on IMDB, but I believe it's because the STORY of what happened is important.. not because the movie was good. Watch it on a small screen when it comes out for free.. not because the movie was good, but because the story should be told.

SCORE: 9.2/10 "There was no bomb". Heartbreaking words. This was a simple, well executed true story about a man named Brian Brown-Easley, played by John Boyega. The story speaks for itself, but John Boyega elevates it to a different level with his performance. Apparently, the film was originally called 892 and then later changed to Breaking, which I appreciate from a Marketing perspective, but after seeing it I really wish they would've kept the original title. $892.34. When Brian revealed that amount of money the VA owed him, a resounding laugh filled the theater, as the filmmaking presented an opportunity for people to find humor in the "small" amount of money he was willing to hold hostages for. This film taught many lessons, mainly not to mess with someone's money or livelihood, but the response of the people around me made me realize just how privileged people are. $892.34 may be a laughable amount to some people, but when living paycheck to paycheck, any sum of money could be the difference between living a normal life and homelessness. One of the biggest things our world lacks today is empathy. Empathy requires the ability to stop thinking about oneself and put oneself in someone else's shoes. One of the things I absolutely loved about this film was how many different perspectives the audience member was able to have throughout the course of the movie. Whether it was from the vantage point of the bank employees, the authorities, Brian's family, or even Brian himself, the film did a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat thinking about what was going on and where it was going to lead. Brian may have been the nicest bank robber I've seen in any movie, and the occasional jokes thrown in there pretty much all hit and didn't feel forced. Lastly, I don't really have much experience with the Military or Veterans, but it broke my heart for the last thing to pop up on the screen to see that his family still did not receive the money. Not only that, but of course we discover the fate of Brian, as he was shot and killed by a sniper bullet. The man who shot the bullet was advised not to, but took matter into his own hands and was found not guilty, as he acted within the law. Anytime a movie is based on a true story, it gives me the opportunity to research after about things in the story that were true and things that were hyperbolized for the sake of cinema. At first glance, it looks like almost all of it was accurate, and the outfit used for John Boyega was almost copied exactly from the security footage the day of the real event.

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free thoughts, please follow my blog to read my full review :) "892 boasts a heartbreaking, shocking story based on true events, proving that real life is so incomprehensible that viewers can no longer distinguish reality from fiction. John Boyega offers one of his best interpretations ever, giving a genuinely transformative display packed with palpable emotion. Michael K. Williams (last performance) and Nicole Beharie are also outstanding. Unfortunately, the one-location narrative doesn't hold enough suspense and tension to keep the audience fully captivated during the whole runtime. Even without knowing the outcome beforehand, the build-up to the predictable conclusion - beautifully executed - lacks interesting plot points and impactful character development. Still shocking, but a viewing most people won't repeat." Rating: C+