FRUITVALE STATION (2013)

 













Written & Directed By: Ryan Coogler 
Cinematography By: Rachel Morrison 
Editor: Claudia Castello & Michael P. Shawyer 

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray, Ahna O'Reilly


This is the true story of Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother, whose birthday falls on New Year's Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend, who he hasn't been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to T, their beautiful 4 year old daughter. He starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, each exchange showing us that there is much more to Oscar than meets the eye. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale BART station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.

The story is Presented itself simply and matter of factly makes a huge impact. Not some kind of martyr Oscar was a human being cut down before he had a chance to truly have a chance to do better. Have we seen this kind of story before? Yes but never like this or at least not under these circumstances. Not flashy film-making but heartfelt. Knowing it's based on a true story makes it even harder to come to grips with the emotions and characters. Though you are promised a tragedy. I can't recommend this film high enough,

It personalizes the victim and hits hard as he could be my brother, family, friend. Hell it felt like it could have been me.

The reason it is on the last day of his life seems to give he film a sense of urgency ticking away to he fateful evening, that you know is coming. The film isn't somber or depressing leading to it's conclusion it's dramatic, loving and funny at times showing hat no matter what life is unpredictable.

The two scenes that truly stand out are life a before and after scene the first is when his mother visits him in jail we not only see the old Oscar but the vicious one and his mother telling him he has to change. The. He turns on her. We see how he can be charming then turn vicious once he gets mad. The other scene is when his mother see's his body all the pain is just manifested in that scene hay we are feelings magnified an hundred times for her. Something hat will haunt her forever and Octavia Spencer hits all the right notes in her raw emotion, never overplaying it.

The film sparks a certain sadness, hopefully sparks discussion and some kind of attention to make sure things like this don't happen or get excused

Michael B. Jordan is a natural and shows off his natural charisma and dramatic depth. Funny, poignant you can easily see why people like and trust him and Jordan showcases that quality. He emerges from the film as a star. The film Shows flashes of his temper and his constant mistakes. Finally realizing he has to step up to his responsibilities.

If you don't have some sort of reaction, something might be wrong on your part.

The film isn't perfect film-making most films aren't, bit it's a great pest step for filmmaker Ryan Coogler. I will admit he film got me emotionally and that did help it to gain a greater grade. I also have to give credit to all the talent involved. It took me there emotionally as well as I'm sure he audience. It felt like I was there and he could have been my friend or family.

The film is flawed, but a dazzling debut film that while it doesn't have grand scenes. What works front is the little nuances of behavior and character that communicate a lot and give meaning. As the film goes on it builds making it's layers thicker. Until the ending you know is coming and making you that emotional when it comes. The last Act of the film when approaching the train station. While the film becomes fun and lighthearted as it shows you a camaraderie of community and characters. you know death is around the corner. You just don't know when it will strike. Knowing it can come at any moment. So that at any incident or sign of trouble you just jump. Until the beginning of the end which comes out of nowhere at first. Where all the holes that lead to he incident are filled in.

The film is very deep and heartbreaking. Like any death the Theme of the film other then injustice is how he lived and the positivity he was striving for.

The film doesn't make the officers who shot him Into killers just wrong for what they did.

The dog scene was a bit much. It felt like a campaign to make him more likable which wasn't needed. It felt like a scene from the Will Smith film SEVEN POUNDS . Whose whole purpose of the film seems to be to make he audience either fall in love with or like will smith...and his. Like Mr. Smith felt he was losing his audience or hey did 'tn like him so he feels the need to tender himself.

That is what some scenes felt like too emotional to a point. Don't know of these were due to a over zealous filmmaker or not. While some of it might be planned. It also might be the director presenting the best version of the character so much they wanted him to be unforgettable.

It was one of the very few times i saw a film and the audience all sat until the end of the credits out of a somber feeling also to show respect to the film.I think partially if they left before it would be seen somehow as disrespectful.

I will admit I saw it twice in one day no because it was so powerful in fact that would be why I shouldn't have as the first time wrecked me emotionally . My best friend wanted to see it and I want to expose as many people to the film as I can. And it left me heartbroken again. Both times had me tearing up, the second time watching it and the infamous scene happened he collective shock, outrage and sadness of the audience around all came rushing at me ad allowed me to witness truly how cinema can brig us all together and affect us. In that moment we are all connected in the experience and while tragic. It gave me a good feeling to see them all affected in that way the influence a film, filmmaker and cast can make. It shows that there are still films out there hat are powerful and political. Something hay feels a bit absent from films and narrative filmmakers as of recently it's an important film even if it gets people to research and pay attention to the story and never let Oscar grant be forgotten.

Before seeing the movie I thought that Must be hard of your whole career introduction by highlighting a tragedy. Then after seeing the film I realized that his is a story that needed to be told. The injustice that happened filled this filmmaker and artist with such a passion. It was a story he had to tell, hay wasn't his own but could relate to. Express his feelings and thoughts on it. Show not a faceless victim, but a man who could be anyone your father, uncle, son, cousin and what happened to him out of nowhere. Proving life is precious.

Is the film manipulative? Yes at times it feel so. Other filmmakers use the same technique for less genuine premises and reasons. I believe I'd rather it be used to tell a story about life and people rather then humans vs. aliens that don't exist in the real world but you are asking metro care and shed tears for them. This film isn't a documentary. So I don't believe all these major life decisions happened on one day, bit it gives a portrait of he person when he is at his best and helps give him depth though it rather asks a question if he wasn't turning his life around would what happened to him cease to be a tragedy?

The emotional highs are hit when showing his relationship with the two most important women in his life. His daughter and his mother the two pieces of his heart.

This is my favorite movie of he year so far as I haven't seen or get a film be so powerful not only to me also to an audience. Especially coming from more modest means.

Now some of you might feel I am giving he film too much credit and letting my emotions carry me away. I watch a lot of films and half the time feel nothing nor do thy affect me, but when one does I have to note it and if it can not only make me relate, but draw me in so much i can't control myself. It truly has achieved something.

You Might not agree with my assessment, but at least urge you to see it and make your own decision.

GRADE: B+