MOVIE REVIEW - Fruitvale Station

Many times very small movies can be really good movies. There is a small, Indy pic out in limited release now called Fruitvale Station playing to good reviews nationally, and now here.

Fruitvale Station is based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22 year old African-American young man that was killed by white police officers in the Fruitvale Train Station in the Oakland California area on the BART transit line.  This movie deals with the single day, and all that led to him finding himself in trouble on New Years Eve at the station.

Oscar was fallible, which is the movies main strength as it is clearly told from his point of view.  He has a young 4 year old daughter with his girlfriend, Sophina.  He has cheated on Sophina, lost his job for being lazy, and has even done some time for dealing small time drugs.  But Oscar decides that he is going to turn over a new leaf, and live life better as the year 2008 is coming to an end.  He's going to stop the lying, cheating and the temptation to make easy money in the hood selling drugs to and from thugs.  Oscar is basically a good kid underneath, he has just made so bad decisions up until now.

So, he takes Sophina and some friends out to a celebration in San Francisco on New Years Eve.  On the BART train on the way home, his past catches up with him for the final time.  He gets into a fight on the train at the station with an old nemesis.  His friends get involved, and the BART police show up to sort it all out and restore order.  Although, this seemingly minor scuffle gets way out of hand as police ego, and unfortunate circumstances get in the way. Oscar is shot by an officer for no real reason, and later dies. How does this happen?

Fruitvale Station does a few things very well. The opening sequence is actual cell phone video from the train platform of the incident the night Oscar is shot.  It is compelling stuff as we can clearly see what was really happening.  This movie is short, and tells its story in a very straight forward fashion.  They do a very good job of showing you exactly who Oscar is in a short period of time.  It also shows us just how tough some of these areas can be, that many of us only hear about.  Even though this is Oscars story, his good, bad and ugly are all on display and that gives this real credibility. 

This is a powerful piece that is aptly timed as recent real life current events have given a fresh look at race relations in our country.   Well acted, casted, directed and well assembled overall. 

Fruitvale Station.  Small, but good.