When critiquing true life stories, it is always tempting to point out where the story in the film strays from the real events. The implication often is that the more it does that, the less credible the film is. Fruitvale Station has been the subject of such criticism. In 2009 Oscar Grant, on his way home from New Years Eve celebrations in California, was involved on an altercation on a train. Dragged off the train by transport police, he was shot by one of the policemen whilst he was under arrest and handcuffed. That much is not disputed and it was filmed by a number of the other train passengers.
What Ryan Coogler (the writer/director) does in this film is present the last 24 hours of Oscar’s life in a largely fictionalised way, and that approach has been the subject of a lot of negative criticism. Admittedly some of that story is delivered in a little bit of a heavy handed way. His encounter with a customer in a supermarket who then appears on that very train and witnesses the incident is a little contrived.
Also his befriending of a stray dog and the outcome of that story element is a bit too simplistically symbolic. However, the accusation that Oscar is being shown in too good a light are, I think, unfounded. We are shown scenes of him (in flashback) in prison, and he is depicted losing his temper showing glimpses of his violent past. By all accounts, he was trying to get his life back on track and was trying to be a better father, so it’s only right this is presented in the movie.
Whatever your feelings about the portrait of Oscar, you will surely find the depiction of the last few hours of his life truly moving. Michael B. Jordan’s excellent performance as the complex character helps garner your sympathy, and Academy Award winning Octavia Spencer, who waived her fee for this film, is very good as his redoubtable mother.
Ultimately, I found this to be a powerful film with an important message, and one that will make you feel both sad and angry at the end of it.
Rating 8 out of 10