Introduction

A Marine war veteran faces mental and emotional challenges when he tries to reintegrate into civilian life.

Breaking is a 2022 American thriller drama film starring John Boyega as a Marine Corps veteran, Brian Brown-Easley, who is in financial trouble and robs a bank. It is written and directed by Abi Damaris Corbin and co-written by Kwame Kwei-Armah, based on the true story of Brown-Easley, detailed in the 2018 Task & Purpose article “They Didn’t Have to Kill Him” by Aaron Gell. The film also stars Nicole Beharie, Selenis Leyva, Connie Britton, Jeffrey Donovan, and Michael Kenneth Williams.

The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival under its original title 892 on 21 January 2022, and was released in the United States by Bleecker Street on 26 August 2022. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Outline

Based on the 2017 real-life story of the late Brian Brown-Easley, a decorated Marine Corps veteran in dire financial straits resulting from systemic failure. Easley is concerned over the effects of this on his daughter alongside the prospects of homelessness to the point of threatening to blow up a Wells Fargo bank unless he receives payment he is owed from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Background

Breaking is based on the news article titled, “‘They didn’t have to kill him’: The death of Lance Corporal Brian Easley” by Aaron Gell, which is about Brian Easley, played by actor John Boyega in the film. Easley was a 33-year-old US Marine veteran who served in Kuwait and Iraq before being honourably discharged in 2005. Easley moved back in with his mom, who lived in Georgia. After moving back in with his mom, Easley met a woman named Jessica, with whom he formed a relationship, moved in with, and eventually married. In 2008, Jessica became pregnant with their daughter, whom they named Jayla. Eventually, Easley was diagnosed with mental health challenges as well as severe chronic back pain. Then, in 2011, Easley’s mother died. Her death began a period of time in which Easley bounced around between various housing situations that included a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental hospital and the inside of his car. Easley attempted to keep himself afloat through the monthly disability checks he received from the VA. The checks were in the amount of $892.

In addition to the uncertainty of his living conditions and his mental health, Jessica said that Brian Easley was, at times, rarely around to help care for their daughter. At one point, Easley did buy a mobile/cellphone for his daughter, Jayla and used it to assist her with homework. Additionally, Easley called her just about every night and the two would pray together. In between everything, Easley attempted to get an education at Lincoln College of Technology. However, by July 3, 2017, financial difficulties had made it difficult for Easley to attend to his education. The VA had not yet given Easley his usual $892 check, which led him to visit the VA’s Regional Benefits Office for an appointment. There was an incident and Easley was handcuffed by police. The VA claimed that he had been belligerent and eventually the police released him from custody, but he did not get the money he usually got from the VA. He was scheduled to return three days later, but that never happened, and a few days later, everything changed.

On the morning of 07 July 2017, Brian Easley walked into a Wells Fargo bank with what he claimed was a C-4 explosive in his backpack. He gave everyone in the bank, except two employees, time to evacuate the bank. In his desire to draw attention to his financially desperate situation, Easley, after calling 911, also called a local news station and explained his perspective to an editor. While on the call, he emphasized his financial struggles as well as his struggles to procure essentials like food and housing. Additionally, Easley said his goal was not to hurt anyone nor was it to rob the bank; he just wanted to get his usual $892 check.

After police and SWAT arrived on the scene, a crisis negotiator, Sergeant Andre Bates, called the bank and began talking with Brian Easley. Sergeant Bates attempted to relate to Easley by discussing their experiences as US Marines. Sergeant Bates tried to appeal to what he saw as the humanity within Easley by telling him his life and honour were worth more than $892. Eventually, Sergeant Bates convinced Easley to let one of the two remaining hostages go in exchange for a pack of cigarettes. This breakthrough gave Sergeant Bates confidence that the situation was heading in a positive direction. However, the breakthrough never fully materialised. In the early afternoon, confusion ensued when a gunshot was fired at Brian Easley, killing him and ending the standoff.

Questions have been raised over why Easley was shot and killed by police. For some time, there was no public knowledge of Sergeant Bates’ attempts to solve the situation peacefully. There have been suggestions and allusions that racial bias and bias against those with mental illness might have played a role in Easley being killed by police. While not excusing Brian’s actions, his half-brother, Calvin Easley, has been quoted as saying, “they didn’t have to kill him. He just wanted to get his story out.”

Cast

• John Boyega as Lance Corporal Brian Brown-Easley
• Michael Kenneth Williams as Eli Bernard
• Nicole Beharie as Estel Valerie
• Selenis Leyva as Rosa Diaz
• Connie Britton as Lisa Larson
• Jeffrey Donovan as Major Riddick
• Robb Derringer as Chief Jack Quail
• Olivia Washington as Cassandra Easley
• London Covington as Kiah Brown-Easley
• Kim D’Armond as 911 Wendy

Production

On 02 March 2021, it was announced that Jonathan Majors would star in the film, then titled 892, as a Marine war veteran who suffers from mental scars, and his hard transition back to civilian life. The screenplay was based on Aaron Gell’s article “They Didn’t Have to Kill Him”, published on Task & Purpose on 09 April 2018. On 08 July 2021, it was reported that John Boyega replaced Majors due to a scheduling conflict with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. On 30 August 2021, it was confirmed that Connie Britton joined the cast.

Principal photography began on 06 July 2021, and was scheduled to conclude on 16 August 2021, in Los Angeles.

Release

The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on 21 January 2022, where the cast won the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the US Dramatic Competition. On 01 February 2022, Bleecker Street acquired the film’s US distribution rights. The film’s title was later changed from 892 to Breaking, and it was set to be released on 26 August 2022.

Box Office

In the United States and Canada, Breaking was released alongside The Invitation and Three Thousand Years of Longing. The film debuted to $985,921 from 902 theatres in its opening weekend. It went on to gross $2.8 million the box office.

Accolades

2022 Sundance Film Festival: Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast in the US Dramatic Competition.

Trivia

• Final film appearance of Michael Kenneth Williams.
• If a veteran uses the GI Bill, and either drops out of class or stops showing up, the school tells the VA and the VA recoups the money from the student/veteran.
  • The VA started doing this because vets would use the GI Bill, drop out of the classes and collect the housing stipend through the semester (aka free cash).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Abi Damaris Corbin
• Producer(s):
  • Salman Al-Rashid … producer (p.g.a.)
  • Elena Bawiec … co-producer
  • Joshuah Bearman … executive producer
  • John Boyega … executive producer
  • Abi Damaris Corbin … executive producer
  • Joshua Davis … executive producer
  • Mackenzie Fargo … producer
  • Sam Frohman … producer (p.g.a.)
  • Will Greenfield … executive producer
  • Harrison Huffman … executive producer
  • Harrison Kreiss … co-executive producer
  • Kwame Kwei-Armah … executive producer
  • Ashley Levinson … producer (p.g.a.)
  • Sam Levinson … executive producer
  • Femi Oguns … executive producer
  • Morwin Schmookler … co-executive producer
  • Arthur Spector … executive producer
  • Kevin Turen … producer (p.g.a.)
  • Jarrett R. Turner … executive producer
  • Alvaro R. Valente … line producer
  • Katia Washington … executive producer
• Writer(s):
  • Abi Damaris Corbin … (written by)
  • Kwame Kwei-Armah … (written by)
• Music:
  • Michael Abels
• Cinematography:
  • Doug Emmett
• Editing:
  • Chris Witt
• Production:
  • Salmira Productions
  • Little Lamb
  • UpperRoom Productions
  • EPIC Magazine
• Distributor(s):
  • Bleecker Street Media (United States, 2022)(theatrical)
• Release Date: 21 January 2022 (Sundance Film Festival, US).
• Running time: 103 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)