Movie Review: Breaking

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An excellent suspense thriller. 

This movie is one that can really keep you on the edge of your seat. Part of this is because if you don't know the true story (I didn't), it will constantly keep you guessing what is going to happen next. Director, Abi Damaris Corbin knows just how to keep this film intense and never lose the attention of its audience without making it feel rushed. This movie also sets out to be more than just a suspense movie involving a bank hold up. This film is also an examination of how even a good man can be pushed too far and the mistreatment of our veterans. What the VA has done to this man is truly tragic and will rightfully make the audience angry. From a storytelling standpoint, this also makes it easy for us to care about a character, even when he is threatening to blow up a bank. This does not mean we agree with his methods or that the film endorses this as a healthy way to deal with this tragedy, but it does create a strong connection between the character and the audience. It also drives home a powerful point and some social commentary that will stay with us. It doesn't hurt that as the main character, John Boyega (best known as Finn in the Star Wars franchise) gives the best performance so far in his career. He gives a performance that captures the fear and anger in him, while still emphasizing his good intentions behind what he does. You can see why he scares the two bank employees, but yet you can still see his vulnerability.

The main fault with this film is that often the dialogue can feel forced and unnatural. This is especially true of the scenes between the main character and his daughter. These scenes feel too cutesy and clumsily written that they take us out of the movie. There is also quite a bit of clumsily dialogue between the main character and the two bank employees (such when he asks one of them what she likes). Meanwhile the scenes that take place outside of the bank are simply not that interesting.

Despite its faults, what this movie does well is simply fantastic. Therefore this is an excellent watch for all movie goers.