Watch Breaking

Breaking is a 2022 American thriller film directed by Abi Damaris Corbin in her feature directorial debut. It stars John Boyega as Brian Brown-Easley, a former Marine veteran struggling with mental health issues who takes staff members hostage at a bank in an attempt to access money from his account to avoid homelessness. Nicole Beharie co-stars as Estel Valerie, the sympathetic bank employee trying to deescalate the situation, along with Selenis Leyva as the no-nonsense police negotiator.

The film opens on Brian waking up in his car, getting ready for his day as a security guard. We see glimpses of his solitary life, living out of his car while working a low paying job. Despite the hard circumstances, Brian maintains a positive attitude, always greeting people kindly. However, it's clear that underneath he is barely keeping it together. Flashbacks reveal his difficult adjustment back to civilian life after traumatic experiences serving in the Marine Corps.

When an expected disability check from Veterans Affairs doesn't arrive, Brian is unable to pay his bills and is facing homelessness. In desperation, he goes to his bank, hoping to take money from his account to pay for a motel room. However, the bank teller informs him that his account is empty except for $12 and that his card was declined for insufficient funds when he tried to buy breakfast earlier.

Brian becomes agitated and brandishes a gun, taking the bank staff hostage and barricading himself in the lobby. Among the hostages is Estel, who treats Brian with empathy and tries to calm him down. However police quickly surround the bank at the alarm of an armed intruder. Lead negotiator Pamela arrives to try to resolve the situation peacefully.

What follows is an intense standoff as Brian makes demands for money while becoming increasingly erratic. Estel attempts to make a connection with him, discovering more about his background and mental health struggles from his time in the Marines. Although sympathetic to his plight, Pamela remains stern and practical in her negotiations.

The title Breaking refers not just to Brian's clear break from reality but also the gradual fracturing of his composure and mind throughout the film. Boyega gives an electrifying performance as a complex, unstable man pushed to the edge by a lack of support. The talented cast brings sensitivity to difficult subject matter, offering a thought-provoking look at how society fails vulnerable veterans.

Abi Damaris Corbin crafts a gripping directorial debut, building unbearable tension while also offering quiet, human moments as Brian spirals. The film provides a nuanced exploration of the mental health crises facing some veterans without excusing the harm to others when their distress turns to violence. Breaking offers no easy answers but brings compassion to its difficult themes with standout performances and direction.

Overall, Breaking is a mesmerizing and moving thriller centered around a troubled antihero and his drastic actions. Carried by powerful performances and sensitive direction, the film provides insight into mental illness while crafting an intense crisis scenario as police attempt to avoid further tragedy.

Breaking is a 2022 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 66.