3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets

It is hard to review a documentary based around the killing of an individual. Considering film is almost always a form of entertainment it is hard to imagine being entertained by something as grim as this.

With that said, this is a great documentary, it shows both sides equally and allows the viewer to form their own opinions on the incident that the film is based on. Too many documentaries are biased or create their own 'facts' when dealing with their subject matter. This was different. Go watch it!

It is everything a documentary should be, an unbiased view at the world recorded through the camera that leaves the viewer with their own thoughts and ideas that are not the directors thoughts or ideas but original concepts that we have adopted through watching an honest piece of film making.

"3 1/2 Minutes Ten Bullets" (2015 release; 98 min.) is a documentary about the "loud music" incident at a Jacksonville gas station in 2012, where a middle-aged white guy ends up shooting at 4 male black teenagers in a car playing loud music, and killing one of them. Upon his arrest, he claims that he was "standing his ground", as defined under Florida law. But was he?

Couple of comments: this documentary tackles a super-interesting case from the legal perspective (disclaimer: I am a lawyer myself, although my practice is NOT in criminal law or doing court trials). The lawyer defending the shooter zeros in on it when he addresses the jury: "these are the elements of the Florida "stand your ground" law. You may or may not like that law, but that is irrelevant. Your duty is to apply the elements of that law." The amazing thing is that the jury does apply the law correctly in the end. What is not so amazing, and in fact is quite disappointing, is that this is not an "objective" documentary. It is pretty clear from the get-go where the documentary makers stand in their beliefs. This should've been a riveting documentary and while certain parts of it are (in particular the court scenes), it is not enough (for me, anyway).

I recently stumbled on this documentary while browsing the Documentary section of HBO On Demand. Glad I checked it out, even though as already mentioned, the documentary is not even-handed. But the legal case itself is worth checking out.

Seeing how effed up stand your ground laws are, this is a must see. I was just glad the final verdict was correct. But you can make that decision for yourself

I gotta say, documentaries covering court cases I didn't know about get insanely suspenseful when it comes to reading the verdict.

On one hand, I feel like I'm intruding as a viewer by seeing the process unfold like this, but on the other hand, there are benefits to showing the way it works for the public at large, and in that instance, I think it does a solid job. Also: it tells its story within one movie, which I'll always say is better than a court case being stretched into another stupid miniseries that goes on five times longer than it needs to (OJ: Made in America is the exception, but it really does a lot more than just cover the infamous murder trial, and is more cinematic than the best of what Netflix has to offer in the genre to boot).

Watch this if you want further information about gun control in America, as well as the way race and the idea of self-defence can complicate an already emotional trial that the poor/super brave families and friends of the deceased must persevere through. Honestly, I felt sympathy at one point for the fiancée of the accused too- there's one pivotal scene featuring her that really changes a lot.

It's good, though heavy, and while it isn't fantastic in its editing and filmmaking and style, it does what it tries to do well. And again: 98 minutes >>>>>>>> eight 1-hour episodes on Netflix ANY DAY 😅

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!