4 out of 5 stars
Crimes happen worldwide every day, and most of the time, we do not hear about their effects unless they capture the attention of the news media. In 2017, veteran Marine Brian Brown-Easley (John Boyega) decided that his only option for getting the Veteran Affairs' attention was to rob a local bank. Even though he had few run-ins with law enforcement since being discharged, his decision garnered him more attention than he expected.
Brian had served as a lance corporal in Kuwait and Iraq as a supply clerk, finishing his career with an honourable discharge in 2005. Yet, like many soldiers who returned to civilian life, he suffered from physical and mental illnesses. After exhausting all of his options for housing and when his usual disability check from the VA mysteriously failed to arrive in his bank account, the Marine was desperate. This left him terrified and confused as he walked into the Wells Fargo branch bank in Georgia, intending to make things right. All he wanted was the $892 that the government owed him, but sometimes desperate measures need to be taken to get the results needed.
Unlike many bank robbery stories that romanticise this crime, up-and-coming director / writer Abi Damaris Corbin’s film shows the human side of both sides of the bank counter. Reminiscent of Dog Day Afternoon and the Netflix true story of Silverton Siege, she manages to unpack the reasoning behind this event and the tragic side of Brian Brown-Easley’ actions. Based on the history found in an article by Aaron Gell, this story shows how this event could have been avoided.
John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) puts in one of his career's best performances and cinemas this year. He captures the desperation of a man without options while balancing his demeanour with gentleness and brokenness. The banking staff described his character as a polite, mentally unstable man who merely wanted what he felt he was due from the government. Nicole Beharie (Monsters and Man) and Selenis Leyva (Spider-Man: Homecoming) were marvellous as the women in the bank who tried their best to defuse the situation. Yet, the heartbreaking depiction of the hostage negotiator played by the late Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire) balanced Boyega’s unassuming bank robber.
Breaking may not have the pacing of Ambulance or Heat, but where it lacks action, it makes up for emotional energy. The harrowing events surrounding this frenzied act for justice allow the world to see the need for many veterans worldwide. Buoyed by stellar depictions by Boyega and Williams, this is a drama worth discovering for entertainment and educational purposes.
The word becomes film
Russ Matthews' new book is a modern-day parable that introduces a radically easy way of talking about God’s story
If you order the book today you will also receive a complementary study guide that is only available with the purchase of the book (Print or ebook)
REEL DIALOGUE: In this world, how can we feel alone?
Watching Brian Brown-Easley work through the challenges of life, it was easy to see how someone could feel alone in this world.
It is easy to even feel isolated in a crowd, especially when every door seems to be closing in your path. Isolation can be a physical reality, but for many, it is truly a state of mind. We can seek solace in personal relationships or through technology, but these things eventually have limited satisfaction.
This profoundly philosophical query can be answered by saying God is there for us all. Mankind needs to merely turn around and acknowledge His presence. During times of joy or loneliness, God is there for us and provides a relationship unlike any other. Where do you start? Begin with the first book of the New Testament - Matthew 28:20 - ‘behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ and then go back to the beginning of the story and introduce yourself as the person of Jesus.
You never have to be alone again...
