Written and Directed
by: Ryan Coogler
Rated R for some
violence, language throughout and some drug use
Release Date: July 12th,
2013 (limited); July 26th, 2013 (wide)
Review by: Sean
Kayden
On Jan 1st, 2009, in the
wee hours of the night, tragedy struck Oakland that would forever change a
city. Oscar Grant, 22 year-old African American, was shamelessly shot and
killed by a transit police officer at the BART train station. “Fruitvale Station” is the film based
on the last day of Grant’s life. You already know the outcome, but “Fruitvale
Station’s" retelling of an ordinary man trying to do well will move you and
ultimately, leave you shattered.
Actor Michael B. Jordan, best known for TV roles in both “Friday Night Lights” and “The Wire” as well as last year’s superhero film “Chronicle,” gives a subtle yet stirring performance as Oscar. The film follows Grant as he tries to navigate through his laborious day. We know he’s strayed away from girlfriend (Melonie Diaz) and got caught. However, he loves her dearly and tries to convince her it will never happen again. He lost his job at the supermarket for being late and comes up empty trying to get rehired. His rent is due and he could sell marijuana (something he was busted and charged for a few years prior), but decides he doesn’t want to go down that destructive path again. Grant wants to be there for his young daughter. She’s what drives him to become a better person. The scenes between the two of them are flawless and poignant. But everyone who comes across Oscar’s radiant personality is somehow, some way moved by him. He isn’t a thug. He isn’t a bad human being. He’s made mistakes that he’s paid the price for. Still, Oscar is genuinely trying to improve himself for those who continually lift him up.
Writer-director Ryan Coogler’s debut film is simply stunning. His plan of dramatizing the last day of Oscar’s life is straightforward, but severely affecting. Coogler’s portrait of Oscar as a troubled young man is distressing at times. The style of filmmaking is very raw and never does Coogler glorify the man. It’s a heartbreaking tale that never should have happen. It’s deeply upsetting to see trigger-happy police officers behave in such a despicable way. “Fruitvale Station” never tries to play the race card, but lays it out all for the audience to consider what happened as an accident or something that could have been avoided entirely. By the time the shooting occurs, we are fully invested in this man’s life. While “Fruitvale Station” started off a bit slow, it quickly turns into a powerful, imperative story that will resonate with one long after the credits. It will make you angry, sad, touched by the turn of events. “Fruitvale Station” is an undeniably small movie that tells a larger story of a man’s life unexpectedly coming to an end for really no good reason other than the misguided intentions of particular police officers’ definition of “protect and serve.”
Since the audience is already aware of what happens in the end, the results are a little less painful, but nonetheless heartrending. While the movie surely isn’t for everyone and doesn’t scream typical summer escapism, “Fruitvale Station” stands tall as the most important film this summer and possibly of all 2013.
Actor Michael B. Jordan, best known for TV roles in both “Friday Night Lights” and “The Wire” as well as last year’s superhero film “Chronicle,” gives a subtle yet stirring performance as Oscar. The film follows Grant as he tries to navigate through his laborious day. We know he’s strayed away from girlfriend (Melonie Diaz) and got caught. However, he loves her dearly and tries to convince her it will never happen again. He lost his job at the supermarket for being late and comes up empty trying to get rehired. His rent is due and he could sell marijuana (something he was busted and charged for a few years prior), but decides he doesn’t want to go down that destructive path again. Grant wants to be there for his young daughter. She’s what drives him to become a better person. The scenes between the two of them are flawless and poignant. But everyone who comes across Oscar’s radiant personality is somehow, some way moved by him. He isn’t a thug. He isn’t a bad human being. He’s made mistakes that he’s paid the price for. Still, Oscar is genuinely trying to improve himself for those who continually lift him up.
Writer-director Ryan Coogler’s debut film is simply stunning. His plan of dramatizing the last day of Oscar’s life is straightforward, but severely affecting. Coogler’s portrait of Oscar as a troubled young man is distressing at times. The style of filmmaking is very raw and never does Coogler glorify the man. It’s a heartbreaking tale that never should have happen. It’s deeply upsetting to see trigger-happy police officers behave in such a despicable way. “Fruitvale Station” never tries to play the race card, but lays it out all for the audience to consider what happened as an accident or something that could have been avoided entirely. By the time the shooting occurs, we are fully invested in this man’s life. While “Fruitvale Station” started off a bit slow, it quickly turns into a powerful, imperative story that will resonate with one long after the credits. It will make you angry, sad, touched by the turn of events. “Fruitvale Station” is an undeniably small movie that tells a larger story of a man’s life unexpectedly coming to an end for really no good reason other than the misguided intentions of particular police officers’ definition of “protect and serve.”
Since the audience is already aware of what happens in the end, the results are a little less painful, but nonetheless heartrending. While the movie surely isn’t for everyone and doesn’t scream typical summer escapism, “Fruitvale Station” stands tall as the most important film this summer and possibly of all 2013.
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
Published by Mountain Views News on August 3rd, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n31/p15.htm
Published by Mountain Views News on August 3rd, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n31/p15.htm
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