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This is interrupted by their daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal). It does not start well, but with a disagreement with his girlfriend and mother of his child, Sophina (Melonie Diaz) over an infidelity. We are then brought to the beginning of December 31, 2008-the start of Oscar’s last day. The mistakes he makes are not given short shrift in the film, and one can see the pressures he faces as he moves through his final day.Īs the film opens, we see the crime itself the scene on the platform as recorded by witnesses on their cell phones. He also loves his daughter, tries to make a fresh start even when things are bleakest, and treats his family well, even when doing so means digging himself deeper into a financial hole. He’s a man who on the one hand has served prison time, lost his job over punctuality issues, and, in an outburst born of frustration, threatened his ex-boss for not rehiring him. Jordan as Oscar is understated and natural. Coogler has shed light not only on Oscar’s life, but also on the lives of millions of others.
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What he has written and produced is a moving and powerful portrayal of the contradictions of Oscar Grant and the challenges he faced. Ryan Coogler, only 27 years old, is to be congratulated on avoiding these pitfalls.
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It could have descended quickly into polemic or romanticism. Taking on the story of Oscar Grant was a bold move by the filmmaker. The drive for “law and order” does not apply to the ruling elite and those whose job is to defend its rule. Meanwhile, for the vast majority of the population, even minor and non-violent offenses often result in draconian sentences. The case pointed up the inequality of a legal system in which the police, in the face of overwhelming evidence, receive a very light sentence for murder. The judge gave him a two-year sentence, and with time served Mehserle was released after 11 months. Mehserle was acquitted of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter charges, and convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The judge instructed the jury that it could not consider a charge of first-degree murder. Black jurors were excluded from the jury and paid expert witnesses were called by the prosecution.
Fruitvale station full movie youtube trial#
Mehserle’s 2010 travesty of a trial was moved to Los Angeles. Given the difference in weight, carrying location and safety locks that have to be disengaged on the weapons, this is highly unlikely. Mehserle claimed the shooting was an accident and that he had intended to taser the prone young man instead. The shooting of the unarmed 22-year-old father as he lay face down on the platform at the transit station that gives the film its name was recorded by multiple witnesses and uploaded to YouTube, sparking demonstrations. The movie is highly acclaimed, picking up major awards at the Cannes and Sundance film festivals.Many viewers walk into a showing of Ryan Coogler’s first feature-length film, Fruitvale Station, already knowing the story of Oscar Grant III’s murder by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officer Johannes Mehserle in the early morning hours of January 1, 2009. He has a history of cheating on his girlfriend, but he's also presented as a good person who loves his family and is trying hard to straighten out. He's a drug dealer who picks up a huge bag of pot to sell, but he later decides not to go through with it. The main character, Oscar Grant, is depicted as a complex person.
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And language is very strong, with many uses of the "N" word, "f-k," "s-t," and "bitch." There's some kissing and sensuality and some drinking and smoking. Violence is an issue during the shooting sequence the actual footage is shown, as well as the fictional re-creation. Parents need to know that Fruitvale Station is a drama based on the true story of a controversial shooting that happened on New Year's Day 2009 the movie takes place over the 24 hours leading up to the incident.
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