A ‘Fruitvale Station’ Lesson - Live now, not tomorrow!

Having only heard about Ryan Coogler’s directorial debut “Fruitvale Station” a few short weeks ago and being quite unfamiliar with the film, I brushed it off -- until seeing the trailer on TV while taking a break from editing my own movie (albeit, a short one).

Now that it’s in theaters today, I’m excited that this two-time 2013 Sundance Film Festival winner (Grand Jury Prize for dramatic feature and the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic Film) is available for the public to see. Based on a true story, “Fruitvale Station” is about 22-year old Bay Area resident Oscar Grant, who wakes up on the morning of New Year’s Eve with an unexplainable feeling. Taking it as a sign to get started early on his resolutions, Oscar sets out to be a better son to his mother -- whose birthday happens to fall on that day, treating his girlfriend better and being a better father to their four year-old daughter.

Oscar’s day starts out well but as it progresses, he realizes that his resolve to change will not come easily. In a tragic turn on New Year’s Day, BART officers shoot him at the Fruitvale subway stop – shaking the Bay Area and entire nation to its core. Of all the reasons to watch this movie (it’s an independent film produced by Forest Whitaker, it’s one of those slice-of-life stories, it’s a Best First Film according to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, it teaches audiences that actions toward the next man/woman affects other people such as family and friends – not just that one individual), here are three that have caused me to take notice.

Michael B. Jordan is in it

While the actor is not a familiar name (yet), I can spot his face almost anywhere, after watching him play football on one of my favorite primetime shows -- “Friday Night Lights.” He then snagged a regular role on NBC’s “Parenthood” – another show I couldn’t get enough of when browsing the tube.

Jordan, however, shows audiences that he is not a one-trick TV pony and his leading role in “Fruitvale Station” (given all of the buzz surrounding this film) says this growing talent might be someone to watch. Well Jordan, if you’re reading, I see you – go ahead and keep doing your thing, dude!

There is but a grim, yet hopeful, lesson in Oscar’s acting on his resolutions early and then being murdered on New Year’s Day.

I believe “Fruitvale Station” has the ability to remind us that we need not wait until the future to put forth effort in making positive improvements in our lives -- whether that is in the form of mending relationships or growing them, inner/outer personal development or merely staying out of troublesome (dangerous, negative, etc.) situations. Knowing that there is a 50/50 chance (or more, or less, depending who you are) of us living to see another year – or another day, for that matter – every man and woman on this earth is best served doing the very things to lift them up now, rather than putting the action-plan off until January 1^st each year.

We’re the Resolutions Completed?

That’s the challenge, as a viewer, when you already know the main character won’t make it to the end of a movie. Finding out how he lived up to that point is what sparks my curiosity and makes for a good reason to go see it. Was he able to succeed in meeting all – or at least some – of his resolutions before that cold-blooded encounter with BART police? Did this young man’s last moments on earth involve behaviors that evoke a sense of pride or do they include actions that bring about disappointment in the wake of his death? What kind of legacy does he leave behind, what kind of example will it have on his daughter and how does it affect the morale of family and friends?

“Fruitvale Station” is now playing in the following cities:

• New York City, NY

• Los Angeles, CA

• San Francisco, CA

Have YOU watched the “Fruitvale Station” movie trailer?

How are YOUR 2013 resolutions coming along so far?

*I apologize for skipping the Monday Movie Meme this week. A new one will be posted on this upcoming Monday, July 15^th if all goes well.