Charlie Black / 13 July 2013 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, Movie

Fruitvale Station

This is the true story of Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother, whose birthday falls on New Year's Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend, who he hasn't been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to T, their beautiful 4 year old daughter. He starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, each exchange showing us that there is much more to Oscar than meets the eye. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale BART station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.

MICHAEL B JORDAN IS A STAR

I feel so privileged to have seen this film pre release at Sundance before being purchased by TWC for $2.5 million two days after the festival close at the end of January this year.

It was released in the US yesterday, UK release yet to be determined and is set to make Michael B Jordan who plays Oscar Grant the young guy killed in 2008 by a police officer in San Francisco, a star.

He plays a blinder appearing in almost every scene through out the movie.

The film is gripping, a wonderful testament to independent film and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (The Help) as Wanda, Oscar's mother I am sure will be nominated again for her performance.

The film opens with the tragedy that the police officer Mehserle actually went to prison for. He said he thought he was reaching for his stun gun.

I was so moved by this film which is first out the gate for University of Southern California alumni Ryan Coogler (27)

It tackles the issues of racial tension that are real and present and is very sad so take a box of tissues.

The thing that was so poignant for me was the way the film connects you to Oscar, just a regular guy who is not always the man he hopes he would or could be, yes just like all of us.

Go and see it as soon as you can. It is a brilliant film.