Fruitvale Station
FRUITVALE STATION (15)
D: Ryan Coogler
The Weinstein Company/Significant (Nina Yang Bongiovi &
Forest Whitaker)
USA 🇺🇸 2013
82 mins
Drama/Crime/Biopic
W: Ryan Coogler
DP: Rachel Morrison
Ed: Claudia Costello & Michael P.
Shawver
Mus: Ludwig Göransson
Michael B. Jordan (Oscar Grant III), Melonie Diaz (Sophina
Mesa), Octavia Spencer (Wanda Johnson), Kevin Durand (Officer Caruso), Chad Michael Murray (Officer Ingram)
Ryan Coogler's directorial debut tells the true story of Oscar
Grant III, a young black man in Oakland, CA trying to go straight for the sake of his family following a brief spell in prison, but ends up being shot by a police officer after an incident of
gang-related violence while celebrating New Year's Eve with his girlfriend.
The lead performance of Michael B. Jordan was a strong
breakthrough for the young actor and the supporting performances of Octavia Spencer and Melonie Diaz are also good. Some events have been dramatised, but often is the way with films that depict
true events. A solid piece of independent filmmaking and the first step into cinema for a director who reunited with the same star for 2015's Creed.
7/10
