‘1992’ Movie Evokes Memories of the L.A. Riots

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 (UPI) — Tyrese Gibson said his new movie 1992, hitting theaters this Friday, evoked intense memories of his involvement in the 1992 L.A. riots.

In the film, Gibson portrays Mercer Bey, a single father facing the repercussions of the Rodney King verdict that triggered riots, looting, and protests in South Central Los Angeles. Simultaneously, a gang of thieves utilizes the chaotic environment as a cover for their heist.

“This was triggering and full circle,” Gibson shared in a recent Zoom interview with UPI, highlighting that the role felt very personal and required minimal acting effort from him. “I lived it,” he said.

Gibson, now 45, recalled participating in the riots as a teenager, driven by his perception of the acquittal of the police officers involved in the Rodney King beating as a grave injustice.

“I was scared, but I was fed up like everyone else,” he explained. “We continued to be on the receiving end of what the police wanted to do to us.”

Reflecting on that time, he remembered, “At least five weeks of never seeing the sun because the sky was pitch black with smoke. Ashes were everywhere — on top of every car, roof, neighborhood, and the grass.”

In the movie, the riots serve as the backdrop to a heist executed by Riggin (Scott Eastwood) and Lowell’s (Ray Liotta) crew. They aim to break into a safe, assuming that the police will be too preoccupied to thwart their plan.

Mercer gets caught up in their scheme while searching for his son, Antoine (Christopher Ammanuel). Gibson emphasized that while the riot scenes are grounded in reality, the film’s primary focus is not on rehashing the events of 1992.

“If you want to watch a documentary about the 1992 riots, that’s not this movie,” said Gibson. “This is about a heist. This is about father-son dynamics.”

Scott Eastwood, 38, mentioned that he delved back into the history of the riots to prepare for his role. He was eight years old in 1992 and vividly remembers his parents, Clint Eastwood and Jacelyn Reeves, discussing the events.

“I remember it being a big deal at the time,” Eastwood said. “I know it was a big injustice and that’s what spurred the riots.”

Eastwood’s character, Riggin, sees the riots as an opportunity, using the chaos to mask his criminal activities. Despite being a thief, Eastwood pointed out that Riggin possesses a moral code, setting him apart from some of the more ruthless members of his crew.

“He did have honor,” Eastwood elaborated. “He had morals. I think he was the voice that bridged the two storylines.”

For Gibson, portraying a single father with a teenage son was crucial. Mercer, estranged from Antoine until the deaths of his mother and grandmother, is a strict disciplinarian.

“I’m the adult here,” Gibson said regarding Mercer’s parenting philosophy. “We’re not friends. This is what we’re doing. This is what we’re not doing.”

When Mercer and Riggin eventually cross paths, their interaction significantly differs from their roles in the Fast and the Furious franchise, where Eastwood’s Little Nobody issues missions to Gibson’s Roman and the rest of the drivers.

“This is a much more serious film and a much higher-stakes film,” Eastwood remarked. “In Fast, I think we’re really just breaking each other’s balls mostly.”

Source: UPI