Fruitvale Station - Weekly Film Analysis

'Fruitvale Station' is a 2013 biographical crime drama directed by Ryan Coogler, the film follows the life of Oscar Grant on new years eve (2008) where we see him encountering and meeting a variety of people ranging from family and friends to enemies as the day goes on. The film includes themes of love,friendship,drugs,pride,money, and discrimination as we see the protagonist Oscar Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan) attempt to keep his pride and provide for his family while trying to overcome his own personal issues. The film follows a linear structure with flashbacks as we see his day predominately in chronological order with brief glimpses of his past scattered through out in the film in the form of flashbacks.

Michael B. Jordan provided the audience with a convincing character as he played Oscar Grant during the film, because he was successful in his performance this allowed the audience to relate and emphasise with his situation as it was clear he deeply loved his daughter and only wanted the best for her, even though he struggled with drugs and becoming involved in crime Michael B. Jordan's performance was key in showing that he did want to make a change in his lifestyle for his daughter. The compassion Oscar (Michael B. Jordan in the film) felt for his daughter was perfectly demonstrated with the help of Cinematographer Rachel Morrison, in the scene where Oscar races Tatiana (his daughter) back to the car Rachel Morrison decided to use a slow motion shot, this was so effective as it allowed the audience to see the true love in the relationship between the two as we could clearly see them both genuinely enjoying themselves as it was in slow motion there facial expressions were clear. This choice of slow motion also allowed the audience time to reflect on how Oscar is fully committed to give up his life of crime in order to watch his daughter grow up as we see him racing Tatiana back to the car not bothered about what people think of him as he stands on top of the car proclaiming his victory in a childish manner , clearly showing us how he is willing to give up his past pride for his daughter he clearly loves so much.  

In conclusion I think the way micro features were purposely used in this film intensified the emotions and sympathy felt for Oscar as we already knew the outcome of the film from the beginning, micro features were used to accurately portray his character, his emotions and the struggle he went through as a 22 year old black male from the Bay area, making the already devastating event that occurred more emotional as we are given his perspective and an insight into the real struggle many people have to deal with due to the discrimination towards Black people in this particular area of America on a day to day basis.