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Fruitvale Station (film)

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This article is about the movie. For the BART station, see Fruitvale (BART station).
Fruitvale Station
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRyan Coogler
Written byRyan Coogler
Produced byNina Yang Bongiovi
Forest Whitaker
StarringMichael B. Jordan
Octavia Spencer
Melonie Diaz
Ahna O'Reilly
Kevin Durand
Chad Michael Murray
CinematographyRachel Morrison
Edited byClaudia Castello
Michael P. Shawver
Music byLudwig Göransson
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Weinstein Company
Release dates
  • January 19, 2013 (2013-01-19) (Sundance)
  • July 12, 2013 (2013-07-12) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11,160,342[1]

Fruitvale Station (originally titled Fruitvale) is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler. It is Coogler's first feature-length film and is based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a young man who was killed by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station in Oakland, California.

The film stars Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant. Forest Whitaker is one of the film's producers.[2] Kevin Durand and Chad Michael Murray play the two BART police officers involved in Grant's death. The names of the officers were changed for the film.[3]

Fruitvale Station debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film.[2] It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it won the award for Best First Film. The film was released in theaters July 26, 2013.[4]

Plot

The film purports to tell the story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old from Hayward, California and his experiences on the last day of his life, before he was fatally shot by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Police in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009.

Cast

Production

Ryan Coogler was a graduate student at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts when Grant was shot on January 1, 2009. Following this event, Coogler expressed his desire to make a film about Grant's last day, "I wanted the audience to get to know this guy, to get attached, so that when the situation that happens to him happens, it’s not just like you read it in the paper, you know what I mean? When you know somebody as a human being, you know that life means something." He was able to meet John Burris, the attorney for the Grant family, through a mutual friend and worked closely with him to get information on the case. He was also able to work closely with the Grant family after gaining their trust that he was on their side.[5]

In January 2011, Forest Whitaker's production company was looking for new young filmmakers to mentor. Coogler met Head of Production, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and showed her his projects. Shortly after, he had a meeting with Whitaker and he came aboard Fruitvale.[6][7] Coogler met with advisers of Sundance Screenwriters Lab. He developed the script with the help of Creative Advisors Tyger Williams, Jessie Nelson and Zach Sklar.[8] The film received funding from the Feature Film Program (FFP)[8] and the San Francisco Film Society.[6]

Coogler had Michael B. Jordan in mind to play the role of Oscar before writing the script.[7] In April 2012, Jordan and Octavia Spencer joined the cast.[9] She received a co-producer credit as she personally participated in the funding of the film and contacted investors when a deal was lost during the filming.[10] Investors included notably The Help author Kathryn Stockett.[11] Also in April 2012, Hannah Beachler asked to be involved in the design of the film.[12] Fruitvale Station was filmed in Oakland, California,[5] in 20 days in July 2012.[13] Scenes were shot at and around the Bay Area Rapid Transit platform where Grant was killed.[14] San Quentin State Prison served as a filming location for a flashback scene with actual prisoners featured as extras.[15] The film was shot in Super 16 mm format using Arriflex 416 cameras and Zeiss Ultra 16 lenses.[16]

Promotion

The Weinstein Co. commissioned three murals in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco to be painted by well-known street artists Ron English, Lydia Emily and LNY in anticipation for the film.[17]

When advertisements of the film displayed in the actual Fruitvale Station raised some questions, the BART spokeswoman said: "there was no debate whether to allow Fruitvale Station [advertisements] on BART. None whatsoever. We really support Ryan. He's just an amazing person. . . . I think that Ryan had said it was his intention to show his love for Oakland and the people of Oakland, and he really succeeded."[18]

Promotional material used on the film's Facebook page and website explicitly referenced the controversial Shooting of Trayvon Martin which was in the news at the same time.[19] This drew some criticism, with publicist Angie Meyer stating "It's absolutely inappropriate and morally wrong to use a high profile case to create publicity and buzz around a movie release."[20]

Release

Fruitvale Station premiered on January 19, 2013 during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival where it was listed as Fruitvale before undergoing a title change.[21] After premiering at Sundance, the film was at the center of a distribution bidding war. Rights for the film were ultimately acquired by The Weinstein Company for approximately US$2 million.[22] In May 2013, Fruitvale Station appeared in the Un Certain Regard, an award section recognizing unique and innovative films, at the 66th Cannes Film Festival[23] and won the award for Best First Film.[24]

The Oakland premiere was held as a private screening at Grand Lake Theater on June 20, 2013.[25] The film opened in more select theaters on July 12.[26] This opening took place surrounding the verdict of the trial of George Zimmerman for shooting Trayvon Martin.[27][28]

Box office

The film grossed an estimated $127,445 on its first night[29] and ended its first weekend of limited release with $377,285 from 7 theaters for a $53,898 per-theater-average.[30] It is one of the best openings for a Sundance festival top prize winner.[31] A week after its debut, Fruitvale Station expanded to 35 theaters and garnered $742,272 for $21,832 per-screen average.[32] The film opened nationwide on July 26 in more than 1000 locations.[33][34] It ranked #10 at the box office, earning $4.59 million.[35] The film has grossed an estimated total of $11,160,342, as of August 5, 2013.[1]

Critical reception

Reviews have been largely positive; the film holds a 94% approval rating on aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 8.2/10, based on 131 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan."[36] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film received an average score of 85, based on 43 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[37] CinemaScore reported that audiences gave a "A" average grade.[38] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter called it "a compelling debut" and "a powerful dramatic feature film". He also praised the lead performances stating, "As Oscar, Jordan at moments gives off vibes of a very young Denzel Washington in the way he combines gentleness and toughness; he effortlessly draws the viewer in toward him. Diaz is vibrant as his patient and loyal girlfriend, while Spencer brings her gravitas to the proceedings as his stalwart mother."[39]

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has praised the film as the "best film" of Sundance Film Festival 2013.[40]

In writing for The Village Voice, chief film critic Stephanie Zacharek called it "a restrained but forceful picture that captures some of the texture and detail of one human life" and praised first-time director Ryan Coogler, writing that he "dramatizes Oscar's last day by choosing not to dramatize it: The events unfold casually, without any particular scheme. And yet because we know how this story will end, there's a shivery, understated tension running beneath."[41]

In his Sundance festival wrap up, critic Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said of Fruitvale Station, "Made with assurance and quiet emotion, this unexpectedly devastating drama based on the real life 2009 shooting of an unarmed young black man at an Oakland Fruitvale Station of BART (San Francisco Bay Area Transit Fruitvale Station) impressed everyone as the work of an exceptional filmmaker." [42]

In a more mixed review, Geoff Berkshire of Variety called it "a well-intentioned attempt to put a human face on the tragic headlines surrounding Oscar Grant." Though he praised Michael B. Jordan's performance, he critiqued the "relentlessly positive portrayal" of the film's subject: "Best viewed as an ode to victim's rights, Fruitvale forgoes nuanced drama for heart-tugging, head-shaking and rabble-rousing."[3]

In his negative New York Post review and subsequent Fact checker article in Forbes, Kyle Smith concluded that Coogler omits key information, while fabricating other scenes, in order to manipulate viewers into a distorted impression of what happened. [43] [44]

Awards

Ryan Coogler accepts the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic with the crew at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipients and nominees Result
Sundance Film Festival 26 January 2013 Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic Ryan Coogler Won
Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic Ryan Coogler Won
2013 Cannes Film Festival 25 May 2013 Prix de L'Avenir d'Un Certain Regard Ryan Coogler Won
Grand Prix d'Un Certain Regard Ryan Coogler Nominated
Camera d'Or Ryan Coogler Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Fruitvale Station (2013)". Box Office Mojo. July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Makinen, Julie (January 26, 2013). "Sundance 2013: 'Fruitvale' wins Grand Jury Prize". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Berkshire, Geoff (January 20, 2013). "Fruitvale". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "Fruitvale Station Trailer, News, Videos, and Reviews". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Rhodes, Joe (June 28, 2013). "A Man's Death, a Career's Birth". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Alloway, Meredith (July 9, 2013). "Fruitvale Station: Interview Ryan Coogler". The Script Lab. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Fruitvale Station - Production Notes" (PDF). twcpublicity.com. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Satter, Michelle (July 9, 2013). "Retracing Ryan Coogler's Sundance Institute Journey". Sundance.org. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys (April 17, 2012). "Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer to Star in Movie About Controversial Police Killing (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  10. ^ Smith, Nigel M. (July 10, 2013). "Octavia Spencer On Why 'Fruitvale Station' is the 'Biggest Movie' She's Ever Done and Going Indie After Winning Her Oscar". IndieWire. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  11. ^ Weinreich, Regina (July 9, 2013). "Fruitvale Station: Hoping for Oscar". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  12. ^ Beachler, Hannah (June 6, 2013). "Production Designing 'Fruitvale Station'". IndieWire. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  13. ^ "'Fruitvale Station' Gets Big Applause at Cannes". CNBC. May 18, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  14. ^ Amy Maginnis-Honey (July 12, 2013). "Local actors have roles in 'Fruitvale Station'". Daily Republic. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Alexander, Bryan (July 10, 2013). "Octavia Spencer: The help behind 'Fruitvale Station'". USA Today. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  16. ^ Marchant, Beth (July 31, 2013). "DP Rachel Morrison on Fruitvale Station and the Intimacy of Film". Studiodaily.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  17. ^ Vankin, Deborah (July 4, 2013). "Street artist murals to promote 'Fruitvale Station' hit some walls". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  18. ^ Hartlaub, Peter (July 10, 2013). "There's a "Fruitvale Station" movie poster at Fruitvale Station". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  19. ^ http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/fruitvale-station-and-trayvon-martin-murder-case-art-and-life-collide-eve-film-release-1
  20. ^ http://www.mercurynews.com/celebrities/ci_23648824/fruitvale-station-criticized-fictional-scene-marketing-tied-George
  21. ^ Olsen, Mark (April 17, 2013). "Sundance winner 'Fruitvale' changes name to 'Fruitvale Station'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  22. ^ Fleming, Mike (January 21, 2013). "Sundance: The Weinstein Company Acquires 'Fruitvale'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  23. ^ "2013 Official Selection". Cannes. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  24. ^ "Cannes: 'The Missing Picture' Wins Un Certain Regard Prize". Hollywood Reporter. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Oscar Grant Film 'Fruitvale Station' Premieres In Oakland". CBS San Francisco. June 20, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  26. ^ Duckworth, Anna (July 12, 2013). "Oscar Grant Movie 'Fruitvale Station' Premieres To Sellout Crowds". CBS San Francisco. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  27. ^ Lee, Chris (July 17, 2013). "Weinstein Co. uses social justice campaign to promote 'Fruitvale Station'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  28. ^ "Specialty Box Office: 'Fruitvale Station' Is A Hit; Sundance Winner Opens With Parallels To Trayvon Martin Case". Deadline.com. July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ Wood, Mikael (July 13, 2013). "'Fruitvale Station' sells out screenings in Oakland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  30. ^ Knegt, Peter (July 14, 2013). "Specialty Box Office: 'Fruitvale Station' Huge In Limited Debut; 'Way, Way Back' Expands Strong". IndieWire. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  31. ^ Knegt, Peter (July 15, 2013). "Box Office: How Did 'Fruitvale Stations Opening Hold Up Against Past Sundance Jury Prize Winners?". IndieWire. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  32. ^ "A Week After Trayvon Martin Verdict, 'Fruitvale Station' Strong at Box Office". The Wrap. July 21, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  33. ^ McClintock, Pamela (March 29, 2013). "Movies Stake Out Strategic Release Dates as Next Awards Season Takes Shape". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  34. ^ Subers, Ray (July 25, 2013). "Forecast: 'Wolverine' To Go Berserk On Box Office This Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  35. ^ Subers, Ray (July 28, 2013). "Weekend Report: 'Wolverine' Bleeds, But Still Easily Leads". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  36. ^ "Fruitvale Station (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixter. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  37. ^ "Fruitvale Station". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  38. ^ Kaufman, Amy (July 14, 2013). "'Fruitvale' starts strong, may benefit from Zimmerman acquittal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  39. ^ McCarthy, Todd (January 20, 2013). "Fruitvale: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  40. ^ @hitRECordJoe Twitter status. "I said it at @SundanceFest and I'll say it again: FRUITVALE STATION should win Best Picture next year. It opens today, go see it.." Twitter. Posted July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  41. ^ "A Shivery, Understated Tension Runs Through Fruitvale Station", The Village Voice, July 20, 2013. Retrieved on July 12, 2013.
  42. ^ Turan, Kenneth (January 28, 2013). "The Sundance Film Festival Proves again to be a mixed bag..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  43. ^ http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/sour_squishy_fruitvale_IKOntZsaTW6FqgMGLxvIJO?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Movies
  44. ^ http://www.forbes.com/sites/kylesmith/2013/07/25/fruitvale-station-is-loose-with-the-facts-in-an-effort-to-elicit-sympathy-for-oscar-grant/
Awards
Preceded by Sundance Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic
2013 		Succeeded by
TBA
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