#FRUITVALE STATION DVD MOVIE#

Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the DVD as it does have some scenes that may be very inappropriate. The film has been rated R by the MPAA for some violence, language throughout and some drug use. The most memorable picture however comes with the confrontation on BART where Morrison points her camera at the fury within, then turns it on Oscar for one more foreboding shot. She gets startling close-ups of Oscar Grant’s dealings with life trials while showing the softness coming through in scenes depicting his relationship with Tatiana. Her shoot is perfect and keeps director Ryan Coogler’s narrative in tune with the message. The cinematography by Rachel Morrison fits the bleak story adding a depressing aura even on the eve of the New Year. Even in the final moments of his life he cannot resist fighting for his rights, but this time in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oscar can’t come to terms with his ways and has not healed from the hurt he received growing up often choosing his own course of right versus wrong. Coogler pushes Jordan to another level as a bad boy who won’t take things as they are and this is the plot point that’s most damaging. He makes his character both likeable and unlikeable at the same time showing both sides of Oscar Grant. Here however, he gets serious and he’s brilliant portraying an ex-con trying to go straight and making amends for his sordid past. Jordan whom I often admire in roles like the super powered Steve Montgomery in Chronicle, Maurice Wilson in Red Tails, and one of the scrappy members of a Cinderella baseball team in Hard Ball. Jordan, Trestin George, Thomas Wright, Kevin Durand and Alejandra Nolasco at the actual site where the incident took placeĪctor Michael B. Coogler could get equal recognition for his handling of this drama as it pulls excellent performances out of his cast, takes aim at a subject important to America, and delivers a strong message without the rhetoric that sometimes dampens a true narrative. His work with Fruitvale Station reminds me of director John Singleton who started his career with another volatile film called Boyz in the Hood that earned him two Oscar nominations. Jordan) with his daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal) in FRUITVALE STATIONįirst time feature director Ryan Coogler does an admirable job with the subject matter, keeping it taut and powerful, but not overstating the message. When Oscar agrees to take his mother’s advice and ride the BART, the family’s lives will change forever. Oscar’s trying to leave his past behind and with Sophina he wants to see the fireworks in San Francisco. It’s now New Year’s Eve 2008 and his mother’s (Octavia Spencer) birthday. She’s the daughter of his girlfriend and companion to Sophina (Melonie Diaz) and Oscar and Tatiana look inseparable.ĭuring the next 60 minutes we witness Oscar’s drama showing his past prison stay where he has a run in with a Hispanic gang member, hiding truths from his mother, breaking a deal to sell pot and other situations. Jordan) dealing with the daily drama of being a father to 4-year-old Tatiana (Ariana Neal). Flash back two days earlier and we see 22-year-old Oscar Grant (Michael B.

#FRUITVALE STATION DVD MOVIE#

The first 60 seconds of the movie shows a cell phone video of a black man being taken down by police and then a final ‘bang’ as a police pistol goes off. Now on Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy, the must see film opens wounds that never seem to heal. Actual footage of the appalling incident that took place on New Year’s Eve 2008 in Oakland, California, gives testimony to a growing problem that should be addressed in all phases of our justice system. The true story film called Fruitvale Station makes a depressing statement about the excessive power of America’s police.

Fruitvale station dvd