jgonzo275 Wonder how it is that HBO doesn't do much "documentary" on the daily black on black violence in Chicago. Keep getting fooled.

davideo-2 STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning In November 2012, a group of black teenagers drove into a convenience store parking lot in their red SUV to buy some cigarettes and gum. Whilst one of them had gone to get what they wanted, another car pulled alongside theirs and the driver, Michael Dunn, asked them to turn their music down. The driver complied, but Jordan Davis, a backseat passenger, kicked up a fuss and turned it back up. This lead to a verbal altercation between him and Dunn, which escalated into Dunn firing ten shots at their vehicle as it sped away, leaving Jordan dead. As the trial of Dunn plays out in the courtroom, and the verdict draws near, racial tensions in the US rest on a knife edge.In multi racial, gun happy America, a breeding ground has been served up for conflicting cultures to collide and for tragic outcomes to ensue. The case of Trayvon Martin a short while ago caused a national outcry at the time, but here, a similar case in the shape of Jordan Davis is documented, another casualty of the gun culture. The state where the incident took place, Florida, currently operates the 'Stand Your Ground' law, that allows a gun owner to operate their weapon in instances where they even perceive a threat, which this film scrutinises.Filmed in a crisp, pristine picture, the film sacrifices talking head perspectives for a straight out real life presentation of Dunn's trial in court (not legal as far as I was aware?) While this takes up most of the film space, it's the outside elements that give it its striking touches, with Dunn's phone conversations with his fiancé playing out over silent, eerie overhead shots of passing traffic with the sound drowned out, as well as the pain and loss of Jordan's parents. His more middle class background and upbringing is the most uneasy conflict with the stereotype his image presents, and its his friends, who all seem to want to break into the rap scene, who serve to challenge the predetermined mentality many may have of them, with 'thug' being the new n word, as one of them laments.This documents a tragic human drama, from which no winners emerged, but from which important questions were raised and vital steps were suggested to put things right. ****

Jazzie-too First, let me say, I can not give this a "10", though as well presented as possible, it's just too tragic in its content to "whoop!" with joyous "10's". And, reading the two previous reviews to mine and seeing how less than half of those who voted gave their approval or support of these reviews, speaks further volumes of hate. That in itself is disgusting, and I believe represents a "hate". Sorry, but I'm guilty of not remembering this incident. There have been far too many in the last 8, 9, 10...who knows, maybe forever, years! I myself have thought, "that is not even music"; "I hate that crap"; "that crap noise is filled with hate and violence". I, like I'm sure, many Americans have thought, "what thugs". Then would any one think Justin Beiber is a thug?! NO! He's too white and too pretty. I just watched this 3 1/2 Minutes, two days after Thanksgiving. I'm only thankful to now be fully aware of this, yet again, horrible crime and the evidence and backgrounds shared in the presentation. However, I did agree and appreciate the 2nd trial results, as that is the result I would have given as a (white)juror. But I am so sorry for that mother, father, families and the other 3 young men. And so many others who have suffered the same hate crimes. And sometimes it has surely been black against white victims. We seem to have an abundance of hate going around the entire world and infecting young and old minds alike. Just sad. SAD! Sad! I am SO SORRY! There really is very little empathy left in this world, mine or yours!! I see it all around me. It's not a world my daddy brought me up in. He would not believe today's world. Back in my childhood, yes, we said "colored people". But we didn't mean it in any "less than" or hateful way. In fact, my dad taught it to me with love and respect. For all people. So much so, that I felt so much "sorry" for blacks, at a young age. I don't believe in prayer that much, but I watch Jordan's mother, and father, in this story, and it makes me want to pray. To pray for people's hearts to not be so hateful. For children to be able to grow up. For children to not need to become violent. For everyone to have the opportunity to learn and to work and provide a life for themselves and their family. I pray for better days to come. Please Lord, hear our plea!

dawoudbey This is a powerful and deeply moving documentary about a subject that continues to plaque America: the demonization of young black men and the subsequent deadly actions taken against them, both by private citizens and law enforcement.Excellently shot and edited, the film is a courtroom drama. We already know the outcome--if you had been following the case--but the filmmakers flesh out the human dimension of the murdered youth, 17-year old Jordan Davis. Through riveting scenes in the courtroom and heartbreaking conversations with his parents and friends we get a sense of what was so mindlessly lost when this young man was murdered. Though the murderer is ultimately convicted, the film makes it clear that there is no "closure" when a life is so quickly and callously taken.This important film challenges all of us to continue to see the humanity in each other...especially those who have been historically demonized, marginalized and stereotyped.