Fruitvale Station is an American 2013 drama movie directed by Ryan Coogler.
The true story of Oscar Grant, 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 Sophina, who he hasn’t been completely honest with as of late and being a better father to Tatiana, their beautiful four year-old daughter. Crossing paths with friends, family, and strangers, Oscar starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realises that change is not going to come easily.
Awards:
- Won Movie of the Year AFI Awards USA 2014
- Won Un Certain Regard – Avenir Prize Ryan Coogler – Cannes Film Festival 2013
- Won Spotlight Award Michael B. Jordan Hollywood Film Festival 2013
- Won Best First Film Ryan Coogler New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2013
- Won Grand Jury Prize Sundance Film Festival 2013
- Nominated Outstanding Motion Picture- Black Reel Awards 2014
- Another 23 wins
- Another 28 nominations
Fruitvale Station movie reviews:
“At the age of 27 Mr. Coogler seems to have it all, and have it firmly in place a clearsighted take on his subject (no airbrushing of flaws or foibles here, just confident brush strokes by a mature artist); a spare, spontaneous style that can go beyond naturalism into a state of poetic grace, and a gift for getting, or allowing, superb actors to give flawless performances.” Wall Street Journal
“It shows us the everyday pressures and problems, the joys and pleasures, experienced by someone moving through life. And then that BART train pulls into Fruitvale, and the rest is history.” Philadelphia Inquirer
“Fruitvale Station is only the first in a string of civil-rights minded movies set to hit theaters this year – contributing to what could be the most racially conscious award season in recent memory.” New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Mr. Coogler, with a ground-level, hand-held shooting style that sometimes evokes the spiritually alert naturalism of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, has enough faith in his actors and in the intrinsic interest of the characters’ lives to keep overt sentimentality and messagemongering to a minimum.” The New York Times
“The intimacy of debut writer-director Ryan Coogler's approach to the film and the no-frills, believably real quality of the main performances combine to drive the senselessness of Oscar's killing home with visceral impact.” Chicago Sun-Times