First-time director Ryan Coogler chose to tell Grant's story as a narrative instead of a documentary to centre his voice and his life, in the process raising important questions about police brutality and the value of black lives.

| Jul 13, 2021

Fruitvale Station offers no social remedies, but by recreating Grant's final hours, it actualizes him as a man, not just a rally cry.

| Mar 31, 2020

While Fruitvale Station is elevated by Jordan's portrayal, the supporting cast, whose characters surround Oscar even during his most internal struggles, is also magnetic to watch.

| Original Score: A- | Sep 7, 2017

This is a film for the people, a film for feelers and thinkers who want to see a story about a flawed person who loved his daughter and family.

| Aug 14, 2017

Michael B. Jordon honed his talent on series like The Wire and Friday Night Lights. His performance seems natural but that doesn't mean it was easy to achieve. It's subtle, deep and fiery.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Mar 21, 2017

Coogler's realistic debut recreates Grant's final day with affection, refusing to cast him as either saint or sinner.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 23, 2014

The air of impending disaster (we open with the notorious mobile phone footage) culminates in a harrowing final act that is both chilling and heartbreaking.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 8, 2014

Brilliantly observed and very moving.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 6, 2014

It focuses on its subject's humanity and assesses the tragedy on a personal rather than explicitly sociopolitical level. However, the way in which it fleshes out Oscar's character makes it an acutely political work.

| Jun 6, 2014

The problem with Fruitvale Station isn't that it is so dense with foreboding but that foreboding is the only register it has.

| Jun 6, 2014

Jordan doesn't beg for our sympathy and is all the more magnetic as a result. The finale is devastating.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 6, 2014

The film's version of Grant has been carefully calibrated to be just nice enough to scare up empathy and just mischievous enough to take some polish of his character.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 6, 2014

There is something almost spiritual in the eerie importance that all the ordinary, banal facts of a life achieve under scrutiny, as time is running out.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 5, 2014

Why is goodhearted liberal cinema sometimes so dumb?

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 5, 2014

The emotionally wrenching Fruitvale Station doesn't feel like a call-to-arms so much as a call against them.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 5, 2014

Just... no. This is heartstring-tugging hooey.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 5, 2014

A deeply moving drama played out on the small stage of ordinary people's lives.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 2, 2014

Michael B. Jordan is simply brilliant in his portrayal of Grant, whom Coogler presents as a generally happy, if complex and somewhat troubled young man.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Dec 10, 2013

The intimacy of debut writer-director Ryan Coogler's approach to the film and the no-frills, believably real quality of the main performances combine to drive the senselessness of Oscar's killing home with visceral impact.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 10, 2013

Writer-director Ryan Coogler's [film is an] assured and evenhanded debut.

| Dec 10, 2013