3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets
Dir: Marc Silver
2015
****
Marc Silver's 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets follows the murder trial of Jordan Davis and
gives insight into how the investigation was handled and the bizarre laws
the defence used to try and get their client off.
The documentary starts by painting a picture of Jordan Davis.
Davis was not a troubled child, nor did he get into trouble inside or outside
of school. He was from a middle-class background and lived in the
heart of suburbia. On the day of his murder he and his friends had driven
to a garage to pick up some gum on their way to town to see if they couldn't
meet some girls. The friends were typical seventeen year old guys, they had
their music playing loud and they were in high spirits. However, none of them
tested positive for drink or drugs, and apart from loud music, the friends weren't
causing any nuisance. Meanwhile, Michael Dunn and his girlfriend had
decided to stop off at the same shop and buy some wine. They had just left
Dunn's Son's wedding, had been drinking and wanted more alcohol when
they got home. Dunn complained about the music and the friends turned it down,
Davis protested and Dunn reached into his front compartment, pulled out a gun
and shot him as he sat in his friend’s car. He continued to shoot at the boys
as they drove away in panic. Dunn claims that he felt his life
was threatened and later said he thought he saw a weapon in the
boy's car. Dunn's lawyer cited Florida's stand-your-ground law in his defence. Marc Silver's film follows
the trial and looks at each individual involved in the incident to paint an
honest picture of what really happened that day and how the law is in need of
an update. The conclusion of the trial is baffling and raises all sorts of
disturbing questions. Silver uses testimonies, audio and visual recordings and
court statements sensibly, keeps to the facts but also highlights points that
the court and jury seem to overlook. Having sat on a jury on more than one
occasion I feel the frustration but am not surprised by the turn of events. The
most shocking element of the story, and one that Silver raises without force,
is the innocents that Dunn claims. Prison phone calls to his girlfriend record
him say "It's absurd, everything is absurd. And
like I'm the *beep* victim here. It's 100% on Jordan...100%. I don't even take
a half a percent. I mean he...he...he made that happen. But you know, maybe he
would have killed somebody if it hadn't been me." The frightening truth
revealed is that Dunn really does believe he is a victim. Chilling viewing
but excellent investigative journalism.
