Fruitvale Station (2013)

"Fruitvale Station" is a haunting dramatization of the last hours of a young man before he is murdered on New Year's Eve by a group of cops at train station in Oakland. The film starts with documentary footage from the fateful night shot with a cellphone, and the rest of the film just careens toward the inevitable ending. Writer/director Ryan Coogler manages to capture every moment with a crippling tension, even when the protagonist, Oscar Grant, is doing something as mundane as eating dinner with his family. You feel the oncoming dread of the family as you get to know Oscar more through his final day, and cringe at every small decision that ultimately leads to his demise.

Michael B. Jordan is marvelous as Oscar. He plays the role with a quiet intensity, peppering in explosions of rage and moments of moving kindness that make you fall for his flawed character. His chemistry with the other actors is natural and fluid, especially Octavia Spencer, playing his mother, who is the most endearing character. I found her character even more intriguing than her role in "The Help" (of which she was the best part). I could gush on for hours of the many honest and subtle performances, so I will just say that this ensemble hits all of the right notes, and should be in line for a SAG Award. This is by far my favorite film so far this year. It moved like few films have in the recent past.

Grade: A+
Easter Egg: No
3D: Mercifully no.

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Davis, Octavia Spencer
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer(s): Ryan Coogler
RT: 85 min
Rating: R for some violence, language throughout and some drug use