Fruitvale Station (2013)

The story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.

Director:

Ryan Coogler

Writer:

Ryan Coogler

Stars:

Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer

39 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael B. Jordan	...	Oscar Grant
Melonie Diaz	...	Sophina
Octavia Spencer	...	Wanda
Kevin Durand	...	Officer Caruso
Chad Michael Murray	...	Officer Ingram
Ahna O'Reilly	...	Katie
Ariana Neal	...	Tatiana
Keenan Coogler	...	Cato
Trestin George	...	Brandon
Joey Oglesby	...	Cale
Michael James	...	Carlos
Marjorie Crump-Shears	...	Grandma Bonnie (as Marjorie Shears)
Destiny Ekwueme	...	Chantay
Bianca Rodriguez III	...	Vanessa (as Bianca Rodriguez)
Julian Keyes	...	Kris

Storyline

This is the true story of Oscar, 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, who he hasn't been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to T, their beautiful 4 year old daughter. He starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, each exchange showing us that there is much more to Oscar than meets the eye. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale BART station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | friendship | reference to the pittsburgh steelers | ex convict | officer | 

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Taglines:

Every step brings you closer to the edge.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, language throughout and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Pinterest

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

26 July 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fruitvale

Filming Locations:

Oakland, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$386,291, 14 July 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$16,097,842, 27 October 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forest Whitaker's Significant Productions, OG Project

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Weinstein Company bought the film for $2.5 million on January 21, 2013, two days after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

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Goofs

On the subway platform, the police officer shoots Oscar in the lower spine. But when the paramedics examine him, a bullet wound is visible (and treated by them) on his chest near the shoulder, and later at the hospital, surgeons remove the bullet there as well.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Oscar Grant: What's your resolution?
Sophina: I'm gonna cut carbs.
Oscar Grant: Aren't you Mexican? You can't eat nothin' Grandma makes.
Sophina: It only takes 30 days to form a habit, and then it becomes second nature.
Oscar Grant: Who says that?
Sophina: Oprah.
Oscar Grant: Okay. Oprah cool now?
Sophina: What's yours?
Oscar Grant: I wanna quit selling trees.

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Connections

Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.109 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Feelin' Myself
Written by Andre Hicks and Sean Thompson
Performed by Mac Dre
Courtesy of Get Gone Records

User Reviews

Just tell a story, if you have to sell it as anything else it isn't very good.

First off, let me say that if this movie wasn't claiming to be a real life story, wasn't trying to be politically correct, and didn't try go after the BART officer I might have more respect for it. But the movie is obviously a fiction and they need to go with that. We are to believe somehow that this man, in a miraculous 24 hours turned his life around from his selfish, brutal selling drugs to children character to a peaceful upright do gooder citizen. It's just not believable from any perspective. When you have a movie based on Oprha references as a true story you better be giving away a free car for good reviews. As my first question is who paid to have this film made? It is obviously more politically fodder than art. We all know Hollywood is liberal, but that only goes so far till it turns off viewers by ruining a script and story. This movie would have been much better off showing true character development. This man as still the thug he was struggling to have one day of small changes in an attempt to turn around his life. Instead they mislead to believe this was the makings of a good guy instantly changing and in turn instantly turned off viewers. This is not a guy stranded on the mountains eating his fellow survivors in an attempt to survive knowing he has little to no chance to live. There is no believable reason for these instant grand changes. Nor is there any real notion that he is struggling with the changes he's making. That is where this movie just fails. The director maybe talented, the actors might be as well. It's really hard to tell given the script they are working with is just garbage. The real sad part of this movie, is that some dumb idiot is going to watch this and think this is "real". They will hold some form of Hollywood made resentment in confusing this for reality. On top of it, it crucifies a guy who simply made a mistake. Yes I'm sure no one else has made them. Throw your stones. But in the head of the moment, he just choked. That part is just brushed under the rug like it was purposeful action. Which makes this film irresponsible. Hollywood movies would do good to stop trying to be political and distorting reality and calling it real life. Just tell a story. If you have to sell a movie on anything other than a story, it just isn't very good.