Namely, the dream that all aspiring filmmakers have during those sleepless nights, wondering if their first passion project will ever be seen by anyone outside of their inner circle. Written by Matt Barone ( 27, Ryan Coogler is already living the dream. RELATED: The 25 Most Anticipated Indie Movies of Summer 2013 RELATED: Gimme the Loot: Celeberating a Movie About Black Teens Where Nobody Gets Shot RELATED: 10 Black Actors Who Deserve More Love RELATED: 10 Black Filmmakers Who Deserve More Respect Read on to get to know the young, gifted minds and the motivations behind their emotionally devastating and superlative film. The almighty Harvey Weinstein certainly thinks so, seeing that his major studio brand The Weinstein Company is distributing the film and currently strategizing its hopeful awards season omnipresence.Ĭomplex recently sat down with Coogler and the film's two leads, Jordan and Diaz, to discuss the making of Fruitvale Station. It's also the work of two on-the-rise talents-Coogler and Jordan-for whom Fruitvale Station should turn into major, in-demand Hollywood players. By the time Fruitvale Station reaches its unavoidable and gut-wrenchingly staged BART sequence, Jordan's Grant is tragic-you know that a conflicted but genuinely caring man is about be robbed of his shot at personal redemption, and it's profoundly upsetting. Through Grant's on-screen interactions with his mother (played by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer), girlfriend ( Melonie Diaz, who's fantastic as the loving, resilient Sophina), and daughter, Tatiana ( Ariana Neal), Jordan is charismatic and endearing in Grant's rougher moments, like a flashback to his mom visiting him in prison, the young actor conveys a natural combustibility that's both dangerous and human. Playing Oscar Grant during his final day alive, Jordan, 26, is a revelation. Jordan, whose scene-stealing supporting work in acclaimed projects like The Wire, Friday Night Lights, and Chronicle were preparation for what's sure to be his official breakthrough-a Best Actor nomination is a definite possibility. The result: a harrowing, deeply sad examination of someone who acknowledges his flaws, is ready to better himself and those around him, but whom we know-as is made clear by Coogler's use of the real-life camera footage from the BART-won't have the chance to change his life.Īt the center of Fruitvale Station is actor Michael B. Through research and many hours spent with Grant's loved ones, Coogler wrote Fruitvale Station. A graduate of of the USC School for Cinematic Arts, Coogler felt he was the right person to humanize Grant through cinema-rather than allow parts of the media to keep painting Grant as a criminal, Coogler wanted to find out more about who Grant really was: a son, a father, a friend. And now, over four years after Grant's untimely death, there's an award-winning film about it, Fruitvale Station, that's on the verge of becoming a major awards season contender.įruitvale Station (opening in limited theatrical release tomorrow before expanding nationwide) is the feature film debut of writer-director Ryan Coogler, 27, an Oakland native who was one of Oscar Grant's peers at the time of his passing. In July 2010, Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to two years behind bars (he was released from prison after 11 months, however). Angry citizens violently rioted throughout Oakland, prefacing a peaceful protest on January 7. ![]() The video footage circulated to millions of viewers online. And it was all captured via several camera phones and mobile recording devices. Mehserle, like everyone else present, was stunned at what he'd done. Whatever the case, though, Officer Johannes Mehserle, in the midst of the heated commotion, shot Grant once in the back. After the fact, the cops said he began resisting the arrest Grant's friends said he did nothing of the sort. Grant, specifically, was told to lie on the ground, on his stomach. ![]() Grant and a few of his boys were pulled to the side, told to sit against a wall. They were stopped at the Fruitvale Station of the BART, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit, by police officers. Oscar Grant-a 22-year-old black ex-con from San Francisco's Bay Area-was on his way home from celebrating New Year's with his girlfriend, Sophina, and their closest friends. ![]() It was an all too familiar, entirely senseless American tragedy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |