Fruitvale Station Review
RYAN: One of the first real Oscar bait movies of the year is Fruitvale Station. It’s super frustrating because it’s based on a true story but unlike many that share the description, this one is less dramatized and fairly accurate. It’s real and incredibly sad that this actually happened.
ERIC: It is sad and it parallels many things going on in the news even now. I couldn’t help but think of that as I watched this movie. The performances of the actors really stand out.
RYAN: It’s one of Octavia Spencer’s latest roles after winning the Oscar for The Help and she gives another incredibly real and intense performance. I obviously don’t identify with being a mother, but she’s so good; she just makes you… she’s that strong in this film.
ERIC: I’ve been aware of Michael B. Jordan since seeing him on TV’s Friday Night Lights. I was a big fan of that show and this is an even better role for him. He’s very watchable and I believed him as struggling to turn his life around.
RYAN: And he’s super cute. This character needs to be likable because he’s portraying Oscar Grant, a real person who was kind and was taken too soon. He deserves to be honored. It’s amazing this was written and directed by Ryan Coogler – only 26 years old.
ERIC: That is amazing.
RYAN: The outline of the film is very effective. There are layers to Oscar’s life and relationships; and the way the film unfolds is a little manipulative for making you care so much about him, but that’s also the power of the story. It happened at the moment of his life when he was getting it all together.
ERIC: And there’s so much in the small scenes that really worked in establishing him as someone committed to his family and trying to make things better.
RYAN: And you’re right, it is timely. With the recent closing of the Trayvon Martin trial and other things – it’s especially topical. Just as you look at issues like marriage equality, diversity, or racism, the generations should be evolving and yet sometimes it seems like we’re taking steps backward. That’s why this story is frustrating in terms of both innocence lost and racial implications.
ERIC: There have been some very positive steps forward when it comes to issues of race and overall equality but this film is a reminder of how much work yet we all have to do. And the movie affected me emotionally. It was sad to watch. But that’s a compliment to it.
RYAN: I know you weren’t affected by it, but I never like seeing a dog hurt in a movie and that scene was tough too.
ERIC: I really don’t have the emotional connection to animals that way but it did serve as another establishing scene of Oscar’s good character, for all that he had made mistakes.
RYAN: The guilty parties were brought to justice but in my opinion, not enough. The punishment didn’t seem to fit the crime and it adds to the aggrivation of the story but makes it all the more worth seeing and thinking and talking about.
ERIC: I only know what was presented in the film and on that basis I would agree, but I would have to learn some more facts about the case to really comment fairly.
RYAN: You’re right, but from the perspective of the film, alone, it got me fired up. It’s definitely worth seeing.
ERIC: It’s good drama that indeed opens the door to larger discussions. Regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic background, we all get up and go to work and even though I might not relate to Oscar specifically, we all share some common goals in life.
RYAN: There is a commonality – it’s ultimately a story of humanity and we all want connections with our families and communities. We can always relate to each other and this movie does a great job at making you identify with the same goals we all share. If you want to get a jump on your Oscar watch movies, here is an option.
