When becoming a professional in the film industry, first impressions can mean everything. Ryan Coogler certainly made his first impression as a director and writer when his first film debuted at the Sundance and Cannes film festivals, where it won awards at both. Can Coogler’s Fruitvale Station impress more than those at the film festival?
Based on actual events from 2009, the film centers around Oscar Grant, a young man whose New Year’s Eve resolution is to make his life better and improve his relationship with his mother, girlfriend, and young daughter.
The audience gets a sense of the kind of person Oscar is and why he wants to improve himself. As with any story, change won’t come easy. To add to that, the celebration of the New Year would be Oscar’s last. Oscar became posthumously famous following an incident at Fruitvale Station, in which he was fatally shot by the police despite being unarmed. Since the shooting was witnessed by people on the train, it resulted in outcries in the media, followed by protests.
Coogler did a fantastic job using Oscar’s character and the setting to his advantage. He makes the audience sympathize with the character, while also acknowledging Oscar’s flaws that drive him away from his family and friends. This is especially notable since some films alter characters to appear more heroic or sympathetic (Such as the depiction of Captain Phillips).
Coogler uses the setting of New Year’s Eve as an opportunity to show how Oscar tries to improve himself for those around him. The message becomes how a single date on a calendar can influence a large story. By focusing on these two aspects, the tragedy itself becomes more apparent and emphasized, as the audience is shown just what kind of man Oscar’s family lost that day. For those worried about the accuracy of the film’s main event, the film portrays his death in a way that is very faithful to the recordings of the actual shooting
What also makes this movie spectacular is the acting. Michael B. Jordan portrays Oscar, and while this is not his first film, this will certainly be his breakout film. His portrayal of Oscar adds even more depth as he brings a lot of emotion to an already powerful film. Many critics saw the performance as Oscar-worthy, and I can see why. The Help actress, Octavia Spencer, portrays Oscar’s mother, while Melonie Diaz portrays his girlfriend, Sophina. Both of these actresses are a wonderful addition as they show their struggles with a man they love but know has very large flaws.
Fruitvale Station is definitely worth seeing. It is a fantastic directorial debut by Ryan Coogler. By focusing on the aspiring changes of Oscar and his relationships with his family and friends, Coogler makes Oscar’s death hit the audience as hard as it did in 2009. There’s no feeling of manipulation and the story is genuine. Coogler should be applauded for transforming a story article into a full-fledged dramatic retelling.
