Due to a mix up on another movie time, some friends and I replaced our initial screen plan for Fruitvale Station. Here's to innocent mistakes.
The actual Fruitvale Station shooting of Oscar Grant happened on New Years Day, 2009. Sadly, I don't remember this exact incident even though there was much press around it at the time. Like all other unforgivable news it was put into the mass crime bucket, this one as "another race related shooting."
Fortunately, there are creators like Ryan Coogler who can shove the issue in our faces in such a beautifully, tragic way that we walk out forced to address our own willful ignorance.
Oscar Grant, played by Micheal B. Jordan, was a drug dealer, boyfriend, loving son, ex-con, doting father, and a mere 22 years old at the time of his death. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't cruel. I fall into that same category along with most of you.
In the beginning hours of January 1st, 2009 he and his friends rode the Bart from San Fran back to Oakland. A fight broke out with some other guys in the same train car that resulted in the Bart Police forcefully detaining Grant and his friends on the platform. As the tensions between the group of guys and the police ran higher and higher so did their physicality to one another. The screaming from the passengers in the stopped train only increased the hysteria of the police as they bring in reinforcements to better restrain the group. First officer on the scene, Caruso (played by Kevin Durand) orders that Grant be arrested. Officer Ingram (played by Chad Michael Murray) turns Jordan on his stomach, cuffs him, and only moments later shoots him in the back. Not even 7 hours later, Jordan dies.
*In the film aliases were used for the 2 lead officers. Real names are Officer Mehserle and Pirone.*
The acting in this film is as hard hitting as the story. Micheal B. Jordan brings the realness to the man, showing his humanity while not shying away from his faults. His subtle expressions bring stress and sympathy in at just the right moments.
Melonie Diaz may not have been a name that was formerly familiar but knods to the casting director on this supporting lady.
Octavia Spencer is definitely keeping up her reputation in the acting world as well. I started to tear just in anticipation of her character's reaction to hearing of her son's death.
Ariana Neal shouldn't go unnoticed for playing Tatiana Grant either. Such a precious little girl that easily pulls the heartstrings with her innocence. Neal and Jordan's closeness was so real that they must have spent significant time together off screen.
If you are curious to learn what happened to the officer and family then please go see this film. Coogler will bring you right where he wants you and leave you there to stew on the injustice; a sad, uncomfortable feeling that I thank him for.
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