Fruitvale Station **** (2013, Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz) – Movie Review

Writer-director Ryan Coogler tells the true story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old African American California Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family and strangers on the last day of 2008. It ends up on the train platform in the wee small hours of 1 January 2009 with the unarmed Grant being fatally shot by a police officer under controversial circumstances. He was lying face down on the platform at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, near San Francisco, when he was shot.

Aged 26, Coogler took the 2013 Sundance Film Festival by storm with his heartfelt debut film here. It’s powerful stuff, everything about it is first rate, and it really packs a wallop. Michael B. Jordan is terrific as Grant, making you care about him as he goes through various mostly mundane encounters on what turns out to be the last day of his life, Octavia Spencer remarkable as his well-meaning mother Wanda and Melonie Diaz outstanding as his girlfriend Sophina.

Spending much time letting us really get to know the character and his life, showing Grant as no hero, just a would-be good-hearted guy if the circumstances were better for him, Fruitvale Station is commendably simple, straightforward, direct and, you feel, trustworthy. And it packs an enormous punch at the brilliantly staged, nail-biting, emotional climax.

We’re told in a caption at the end that the officer who shot Grant testified in court that he confused his handgun for his Taser.

Spencer is also co-executive producer for the movie, with one of her main tasks to attract investors.

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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