Review of Fruitvale Station (2013) by Benni B — 14 Jul 2015

Before Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler team up again with 'Creed', this powerful duo punched us right in the gut with 'Fruitvale Station, which is based on the real-life events of Oscar Grant, who got shot and killed during New Years Eve of 2008. If you haven't heard about his story or seen a trailer for this movie, than his death is still not a spoiler, because Coogler puts the original footage of the incident right at the beginning. What follows are the last hours of Oscar, who tries to bring his life back on track after a prison sentence and the loss of his job. He spends time with his girlfriend and daughter, which makes the inevitable end only more heartbreaking. Every sweet moment has a bitter aftertaste and each ray of light casts an even darker shadow on his last hours on earth. Every promise and every choice he makes, in order to be a better father, son and partner, is brought on screen with a melancholic yet lively direction and an incredible performance by Michael B. Jordan.

'Fruitvale Station', like '12 Years A Slave', is a hard movie to watch and will have your eyes filled with tears. That's what it sets out to be and to do, and it succeeds in both ways masterfully.