Fruitvale Station (2013)

Wonderful character development!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Dreadfully Boring

Boring

Fruitvale StationThere is a sense of awareness among the makers about the sensitive issues raised in here as it is perfectly balance on terms of biography, drama and the craft that is explored. Its ingenious take on depicting such a character and the accuracy and honesty of it, is what makes the viewers connect to it from the first frame as it doesn't waste any of its time on justifying the occurred incidents. The writing is smart, to-the-point and poignant where even the writer puts the storyline above everything else which helps keep the audience engaged. There isn't much to look forward to on terms of technical aspects like background score or sound department but the editing surely makes it all worth. Ryan Coogler; the writer-director, is the reason behind all the heart that the feature is, for his brilliant execution skills is apt for the tale it tells. He speaks on all levels when it comes to convey his characters on screen without any dialogues. On performance level, Michael B. Jordan is no match to any other supporting cast of his except for Octavia Spence who is equally elegant and speaks volume in here. Fruitvale Station is a wake-up call at night for the audience, society, movie-goers and makers, as it redefines it all again.

I watched this movie with the thought that it would be a good opportunity for me to see a story about people I had less in common with. It turned out to be a story about people who I was all too familiar with, which was devastating. Real people with real struggles in the real world.

Phwoarrr that hit me and then some! What an unexpected treat this was. An extremely rare impactful drama that feels utterly necessary in addressing the ongoing issue of firearm usage in America. Depicting the true story of 22 year old Oscar whom is caught in a situation involving the police at Fruitvale Station during New Year's Day. The inevitable conclusion is not what makes this drama so tantalisingly electric, it's the portrayal of Oscar's family and himself that allows us to become invested on an emotional level. Conveying a family man who is determined to be the best father, son and boyfriend that he could possibly be. Garnering respect amongst the community, he becomes an established proud individual who assists his friends and himself, thus making him relatable. A runtime of just 82 minutes, the focus and patience that is put into portraying Oscar was paramount, particularly given the melancholic conclusion. Ryan Coogler is consistently pushing the camera up close and personal to the actors, enhancing the intimacy between us and the characters. A tangible link where he is able to make us feel every emotion. I can't quite express how difficult that is to illustrate in a film. The fact this is his directorial debut stuns me even more, a talent that Hollywood will be watching for quite some time. Michael B Jordan was outstanding, this is his best role by far. Nuanced yet powerful, expressive yet emotionless, he was an enigmatic revelation. Spencer and Diaz also gave excellent supporting roles, particularly towards the end. I just wished it was longer, to flesh out Oscar's character even further. But, there isn't a more thematically relevant drama than this right now. As soon as the credits rolled, a cluster-bomb of emotions rushed to my heart and soul. I was livid, sad, shaken and full of remorse. Such a tragedy that could've easily been a melodramatic bore, but instead is a formidable powerhouse drama that showcases exceptional talent on and off screen.

I absolutely love this movie. Honestly, I didn't know anything about Oscar Grant until I saw this movie.Positives:1. Michael B. Jordan plays Oscar Grant with effectiveness2. All of the actors in this movie feel like real people3. The directing in this movie is effective and tremendous4. The cinematography really sets the tone and it sucks you in5. The movie moves kind of slow while feeling fast paced at the same time6. Every scene in this movie feels necessary (absolutely nothing needs to be taking out or changed)7. There's humanity in this movie (example, in life we are the main characters in our own worlds; people come into our lives, they enter, and some exit; some people may change your life and it may effect you forever8. The last 15 minutes or so made me cry (I don't cry very often, especially during movies, but I felt the pain, I felt the heartache, the emotions felt real, the grieving was real, and the loss hits homeNegatives:Honestly, I can't think of any negatives for this movie, and that's very rare for meThe only negative thing is the police. The officer claims to have been reaching for his taser, but he accidentally reached for his gun, and he shot unarmed Oscar Grant in the back. The officer did go to prison, but he only got 11 months. A lot of people in the community claim that there is no justice in the justice system. Some officers get to do what they won't with no real consequences. Some people feel that police are their own gang. Some officers terrorize people and inflict fear. The police are meant to serve and protect their citizens. People are starting to die and the world is noticing that there is a chain happening here. Black communities are suffering because they don't feel safe in their own communities. civilization has evolved and we have access to more things. The accidental shooting of Grant was recorded on numerous cameras. Witnesses were around and apparently the police felt that they could do what they wanted. I don't know much about the current issues happening in the black communities; I am a black male, but I have not experienced any intentional racism myself. I'm glad that this movie was made. This movie can shed some light on the current issues we are facing.Overall, I absolutely fu*king love this movie; this movie is definitely worth checking out.Final Grade: A+