I went into this movie not knowing what to expect. 

The protagonist of 1992 is a man recently released from prison—six months out after serving time for an unspecified gang-related crime. He’s raising his 16-year-old son alone, following the deaths of the boy’s mother and grandmother.
 

The plot takes an intriguing turn when a group of criminals exploits the chaos of the riots to carry out a platinum heist at a manufacturing plant. For a film set in 1992, the plan is surprisingly sophisticated: breaking into a safe while the building is left with only one security guard. This movie also has the distinction of being Ray Liotta’s final role, where he plays the leader of the heist. However, most of the heavy lifting is done by his two sons and one of their war buddies.
 

What I appreciated most about the first half of the movie was its focus on the riots and their impact on the community. Mercer, the main character, is no stranger to violence but is determined to protect his son, guiding him to the very plant targeted by the thieves, thinking it would be safe. The film successfully captures the outrage and pain many felt during that time, reflecting the national anger over such an egregious miscarriage of justice.
 

The second half shifts into a Die Hard-style thriller, with Mercer taking on the thieves while his son is held hostage. It’s gripping to watch Mercer use his skills—reluctantly—to protect his family. There’s even a moment of unexpected depth when one of the criminals realizes the heist has spiraled out of control.

A particularly striking moment involves the one Black member of the criminal crew, who becomes the first casualty after a forklift accident severs his legs. The unintentional harm caused by his white accomplices during the riots adds a layer of bitter irony that doesn’t go unnoticed.
 

While the movie isn’t groundbreaking, Tyrese Gibson delivers a strong performance as Mercer, portraying a father deeply scared for his son’s safety but capable of defending him when pushed. One especially poignant scene sees Mercer humiliated during a traffic stop by police while driving to the plant. Despite his rage, he keeps his composure to avoid escalating the situation. Meanwhile, watching a white family breeze through the barricades without inspection is enough to make anyone’s blood boil.
 

I did wish the ending had circled back to explore the aftermath of the riots more fully, but instead, it focused on tying up the heist plot. Using the historical backdrop of the LA riots to ground the story in a specific time and motive feels inevitable 30 years later. Still, I initially thought the film might lean more into being a historical drama. Ultimately, it wasn’t, and it reminded me of how Black Panther used a real-world event to set the tone in its opening scenes.