• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
Home > Categories > Movies > Drama > Fruitvale Station review
Winner of two 2013 Sundance Film Festival awards, debut director Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station follows the true story of Oscar Grant, 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. Crossing paths with friends, family, and strangers, Oscar starts out well, but he soon realises that changes are not going to come easily. Then suddenly, a truly devastating destiny befalls Oscar: transit police officers shoot him in cold blood at the Fruitvale Station. Oscar's life and tragic death would shake the Bay Area - and the entire nation - to its very core.
Rated: M
Running Time: 82minutes
Kung Fu Panda
Time Team - Friars Wash and Other Digs
The Gods Must Be Crazy
American Dreamz
Vacancy
The Watch
The Happening
The Hangover
Kick-Ass
NEBRASKA
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Petals in the Wind
The Secret Product reviews...
Review by: cherrycola27 (Cheri)
Dated: 27th of March, 2014
There is definitely a reason this film received two awards, no doubt about it Fruitvale station is an amazing DVD to watch and definitely worthy to be classed as an award winning film. The fact its based on a true story brings it all home that little bit more and to me makes it all the more interesting and real. It wasn't until this ended that I just sat there and thought 'wow that really happened'. Certainly made me feel very grateful for the life I live and those in my life - a very big contrast to the lives and notions explore in this film. Fruitvale Station definitely held my attention the entire time and in fact I've already watched parts of it twice - so yep I would indeed pay to see it again that's for sure.
The main character in this movie - Oscar is really trying to get his life back together on all counts from the moment this movie starts. It takes a little while before you are up to speed and understand this fact as you are still learning about him when the movie first starts. Some great acting means you start to really feel for Oscar and can see he is trying his hardest to sort things out but his history and lifestyle just keep catching up with him. The film features several "flash backs" in Oscar's memory which helps you understand this and his history which only adds to the story line. You really feel like you know Oscar and all the more reason why the ending events seem so harsh.
The transit police officers who did what they did (remembering that this is based on a true story) really made me so mad - that people can be so discriminating and racist within society (whether it is ours here or others around the world) really does just disgrace me. I don't understand it and don't in the slightest commend it as realistically there is just no need for it. Yes people make mistakes in life but to shoot a man in cold blood based pretty much on the colour of his skin is just disgraceful of human kind - I am glad he went to jail and served time that's for sure. This film definitely explores some deep issues and understandings - and definitely does require the M rating if not higher - I certainly wouldn't be letting a young teenager watch it but that might just be my protective parenting kicking in haha 
This DVD certainly has great acting, great lighting, sound and overall outlay of the storyline. Then just as suddenly as it started this film ends. I found both the starting and ending to be abrupt but somehow that just added to the overall DVD and feelings associated. A snap shot of a young man who was trying to pull his life together but his chance on life was suddenly cut short - leaving behind a grieving partner, child, mother and family. Fully recommend Fruitvale Station DVD to others as a great watch and I know I will be watching this again myself too.
Random listing from 'Movies'...
Wayne Szalinski, the inventor who accidentally shrunk his kids in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," has sold his invention to a big laboratory and moved his family to a suburb outside Las Vegas. Working at home one day, he accidentally uses his new growth ray on his two-year-old son Adam. Adam quickly grows out of control, causing havoc for the family and attracting the attention of the government and greedy scientists.
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"I like to pick up hitchhikers. When they get in the car I say, "Put on your seat belt. I want to try something. I saw it once in a cartoon, but I think I can do it."
Steve Wright
