Review of Fruitvale Station (2013) by Blake P — 23 Feb 2014

It's easy to, in the face of tragedy, look at the victim as an object, one of immense interest, and often times, controversy. Recently, the murder of Trayvon Martin has rocked the public, due to its brutality and prominent exampling of the ugly facts of racial profiling. His death was horrifying, unfair, and heartbreaking. We don't know him, yet there is a sort of connection, considering he was the kind of young man you'd see simply walking down the street, minding his own business.

"Fruitvale Station" tells the story of Oscar Grant, another victim who died under similar circumstances. He is given a different treatment than Martin, because, rather than simply be given the two-dimensional characterization the media gave the latter, Grant is fleshed out with such realness that it makes the story of his death even more painful.

Films of the same vein tend to be spread a little bit thick, focusing on only the good aspects of the person they're portraying and often times fictionalizing different aspects in order to make the victim look like a complete saint and the murderer a ruthless monster. "Fruitvale Station" instead shows us the events on the last day of Oscar Grant's life, with every detail intact, beautiful or otherwise.

Throughout the film, which is only a short 84 minutes, it isn't hard to like Grant, despite his faults. Though only 22, he has a young daughter (Ariana Neal) and a serious girlfriend (Melonie Diaz) - there are many scenes in which we can tell Grant would like to do nothing more than flip his life around. We find out that he lost his lackluster job, and has been drug dealing on the side in order to get extra cash.

He's been to jail a few times, and maybe has been forced to start his life a little too early - but nevertheless, there is so much good in Grant that we immediately empathize with his situation. Life may not be easy, but through all the hardship, it's easy to see how much he loves his daughter, his girlfriend, and his mother (Octavia Spencer). He may not always be on the right side of the law, but his heart is in the right place and he simply wants to provide for the family he loves so deeply. The fact that his death came so early stings bitterly.

The tense, climactic scene at the BART station is shot with such intensity that we feel just as terrified as the bystanders who were helpless to the police brutality that took place. And it hurts.

Knowing that Ryan Coogler is a first-time director is stunning - each moment is filmed with such patience, the story is told with such tenderness; usually only the most experienced filmmakers would be able to shoot each scene so gracefully. Coogler not only has an eye for subtleness, but he brings out spectacular performances from his actors.

Michael B. Jordan is the perfect choice to play Grant - while Grant himself already is likable, Jordan is the key to making it believable. His nonjudgmental smile and easygoing demeanor makes the public Grant confident and kind. But as the private Grant, it isn't hard to detect the sadness and longing that his life has presented him with. Rather than attempting to copy the man he is playing, Jordan takes all of the aspects of his character and brings him to life.

Grant's relationships with his girlfriend and mother are hugely important to the story, and the women who play them are just as marvelous to watch. Diaz is compelling to watch on the screen, as it's easy to see that she is disgusted by her boyfriend's shady drug deals, but is also completely in love with his charismatic, selfless personality. When we watch her reaction to the news that he has been killed, it's heart-wrenching. Spencer is brilliant as Oscar's mother, proving to be his rock. But in quieter moments, we see her breaking down, because her son is unknowingly squashing his huge potential. Any time Jordan is on the screen with either actress, there's a sort of chemistry that make everything feel utterly authentic.

"Fruitvale Station" is upsetting, but also fascinating. Rarely do we get to see a tragedy brought to life with such realism and kitchen-sink awareness. Coogler is a director to be reckoned with, and Jordan is a revelation.