'FRUITVALE STATION'

'FRUITVALE STATION' (R) (4 STARS) (HIGHEST RATING)

Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler
Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray.

It didn't have to go down like this. How many times has this been thought of lately and how sick does it make you? With all the gun violence in Chicago and our kids, even babies, getting gunned down how may times do we have to think this? The unflinching, powerful and explosive "Fruitvale Station" brings us just one in a plethora of sad stories of lives lost because of prejudice and carelessness. It is perfect, emotional film making at it's finest and it gives us a heartbreaking story of one young man whose life was cut short when it didn't have to be that way.

"Fruitvale Station" is based on the true life story of Oscar Grant who was gunned down in the back by a transit cop in Oakland. The movie starts out with I think is the real cell phone recording of this shooting and how it happened. We then follow the victim on his last day, the last day of 2008. Oscar is a troubled kid who was in prison and now is raising a young daughter with his girlfriend Sophina. We follow Oscar on his last day on earth before he was fatally shot because of stupidity.

The movie is straightforward in it's storytelling but it effectively makes us get to know Oscar, his girlfriend and his frustrated but loving mother. We follow Oscar on this day as he tries to set up a birthday party for his mother Wanda, struggles with problems with his girlfriend and tries to get his job back before he goes back into drug dealing. We do get one flashback scene that is powerful and very well done and much needed. It shows us when Wanda visits her son Oscar in prison.

The acting here is unforgettable and powerful starting with the star making performance of Michael B. Jordan as Oscar. Jordan has been in a lot of movies and you will remember him as the struggling QB Vincent Howard in the TV series "Friday Night Lights". His performance here feels real, is subtle, quiet and very moving. This is a star in the making and an actor to look out for. Octavia Spencer plays Wanda and her performance here is even better than her Oscar winning turn in "The Help". It is quietly powerful and more subtle than her work in "The Help". It is a heartbreaking performance full of life. Melonie Diaz as Sophina is very pretty, glowing and sweet, she also gives a real and stellar performance.

First time writer and director Ryan Coogler does a wonderful job and never makes a wrong move here. There is not a wasted shot and in the writing he doesn't give us to much overbearing detail about Oscar's life. That is wise and why the movie becomes more powerful. It simply sets up the relationships and the bonds between the characters without too much needless exposition like lesser movies would have done. So when we get to that final, shocking scene we are affected more deeply.

Coogler has made a very impressive debut and I love seeing new talent arrive on the scene like this. I also love seeing an actor like Jordan emerge, showing us his maturity and wise acting choices. I hate comparing but this reminds me of a young Denzel Washington. This is wise, smart, economical, powerful and gut wrenching work. The final scenes are brutal, explosive and heartbreaking and I cried for a very long time. I challenge you not to cry by the time this is over.

The movie made me cry but also made me angry because the movie effectively makes us confront the police brutality, violence and prejudice that goes on everyday, the stories we don't know about. There are many Oscars out there and much prejudice and senseless violence. "Fruitvale Station" is important film making, as powerful and as relevant to today as "Do The Right Thing" was to the 80's.