Review of Fruitvale Station (2013) by Grace W — 17 Dec 2013

Fruitvale Station is a stunning film. I have heard some mixed thoughts about it. Some have claimed the film is essentially a well-acted hagiography. Not so. It's a very balanced, yet ultimately, tragic glimpse into the last hours of a flawed human being.

I've always been a fan of Michael B. Jordan. I'm so happy he has been able in this movie to play a role with the same kind of depth he portrayed in television shows like The Wire and Friday Night Lights.

I was beginning to worry films like Chronicle would dictate the course of his career. Fortunately, first-time director Ryan Coogler penned a taut, yet restrained script that left ample breathing room for Jordan to become the character and make Oscar his own--and he absolutely shines.

Coogler set out to document a tragedy, but what he found in this film was a life; a life not at all different from our own. I don't think this film answers any more questions than you will find by looking at the event on youtube.

But what it does do is reminds us, perhaps more powerfully than I have ever seen in a movie, of the importance of our dreams, and how easily they can be taken away.