Writer: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavio Spencer
Tomatometer: 92/90/87 (all critics, top critics, audience)
Spoiler-free Summary: Oscar is a 22-year-old African American man living in Oakland. He’s got a girlfriend, a daughter, and a criminal record. Oscar lost his job, so he’s back to selling drugs, but he’s doing his best to become a better husband, father, and man. He’s really just some guy. Unfortunately, for a black man, that’s a problem.
Two Cents: There are good movies, there are bad movies, and there are important movies. Important movies are the ones that tell stories that are difficult to tell, stories that don’t lend themselves to entertainment, stories to which most people would rather turn a blind eye. Making an important movie takes guts, determination, and investors with no expectation of a return. It takes a whole lot more than that to make an important movie a really good one, too.
Fruitvale Station is the true story of Oscar Juliuss Grant, III, a young black man who was the victim of police brutality. Thanks to social media, his story became a national headline. This is not a horror film, yet it is most definitely horrifying. Ryan Coogler (27), in his first feature-length film, does a masterful job of representing Grant as a real and regular person. By depicting Oscar in many mundane and unspectacular situations, Coogler forces the viewer to root for Oscar, not because he’s special, but because he’s (in many ways) the everyman. He’s remarkably unremarkable.
Of course, there will be questions about whether Grant really was the person he’s made out to be in this film, and that’s understandable. I don’t know the answer, and I don’t think it matters. Police brutality and intolerance are important issues, and this is just one situation that involved both. It wasn’t the first, nor was it the last. It probably wasn’t even the first or last on that day, within a two-block radius.
I’m not a political commentator, and this isn’t a political blog. Still, whether you fall on one side of the discussion or the other, this is a movie that needs to be seen. Kudos to Coogler and his collaborators for bringing it to life.
Although Grant is the real story here, I can’t understate the power of Michael B. Jordan’s performance. This young actor is making all the right moves. He has yet to be less than awesome in any role. Octavia Spencer is a true pro, and Melonie Diaz continues to build a terrific résumé as a talented character actress. This film has already won awards at Sundance and Cannes, and I expect it to wrap up a few more before the post-2013 awards season comes to a close.
Should I/Shouldn’t I: Go to a theater, wait for the DVD, or order it on demand – it makes no difference. Just make sure you see Fruitvale Station.
Sundae Rating: Two scoops with whipped cream and hot fudge
Sunday Morning Screenings 