Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station is based on the true story of Oscar Grant III. I am embarrassed to say that I did not remember this story until my manager brought up wanting to see the movie. I was living in California when this incident occurred in 2009. I heard here and there about a white cop shooting a young African American but that's all I remembered.

As so many horrible things do in our society, as soon as the next horrific thing happened, I forgot about this story. But, as soon as I saw the preview for the movie I knew I had to see it. I knew it was an Indie film, and if you haven't learned already, I love watching Indie films. According to Wikipedia.org this movie was filmed in 20 days which is incredible. I am unsure whether or not that fact is accurate, but if it is, wow.

I have done a great deal of research about the true facts of this movie and what actually happened. When it comes to true stories I like to find out just how much is actually truth. The underlying point to this story is that justice needs to be served. Oscar Grant was not a "stand up citizen," he had many problems which are documented all over the wonderful world wide web. He sold drugs, went to jail, cheated on his girlfriend (mother of his daughter), and was unable to retain his job. Some of these things are depicted in the movie, there is an added scene which appears to be added to make you feel a sense of connection to the character in a positive manner. But despite who Oscar Grant was or the mistakes (big and small) he made, what happened was unacceptable.

In the movie and through interviews from those who recorded the incident on their phones it appears that Oscar was involved in a scuffle. A fight, is what the police called it, but someone who witnessed it said it seemed to be no more than two guys wrestling. Despite what the fight was or wasn't, cops showed up on the scene. It all lead to Oscar being forced to the ground by a couple cops, face down on the ground, unarmed, a cop pulls his gun and shoots Oscar in the back. This is the fatal shot that (eventually) ended Oscar's life. The officer was charged with manslaughter.

This is a personal side note based on my research, but the officer was given 2 years including time already served, which is LESS than the minimum for manslaughter. However, the officer was let out after 11 months served. To me that is absolutely unacceptable. This is where the justice system failed. I think this movie is completely worth renting. Not only because it is a real life story but because it may cause us to look at the discrepancies within our justice system.

Flight

I have to admit initially for me this one was a skip it, even after it was nominated for an Oscar. I had no intentions of seeing it, until my mom said it is really good. Now, unlike my dad she does have pretty good taste in movies. Plus, it helps that she had already seen it and enjoyed it.

I am not going to spend a lot of time explaining the plot of the film because most already know it. It is about Washington being a hero pilot that saves everyone on his plane with the exception of, I believe, six individuals. The catch here is that the hero, is a drug using, heavy drinking individual, including but not limited to when he flies.

The story is really so much more than the plane wreck however and the story of his life and what has happend along the way. I would say this is really the story of one man's addiction and what it took for him to really realize he needed to quit using drugs/alcohol to avoid his life.

I did enjoy this movie, it kept my attention and caused a debate among my family and I. A few thought it would be possible for the plane to fly upside as it did in the movie for as long as it did and not have any problems. I disagreed because I read what the director had said in regards to consulting with a twenty+ year pilot and how it would not be possible for the plane to fly like that. I also read to my family what Boing (who owns that type of plane) stated, agreeing with the pilot, that commercial planes cannot fly upside down.

So, if the logistics of how a plane can actually fly and the artistic license that the director took will not bother you, which I was able to get past and enjoy the movie, than I suggest you watch this movie. The movie really is a good story and visually very appealing, plane upside down or not.

Won't Back Down

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis, wow! I really enjoy movies that are based on true stories, I know I know we can all argue about just how true they are, but none the less I like them. This movie is definitely a feel-good movie.

The story is about a mom incredibly frustrated by the fact that her daughter is not getting the help in school that she needs. The little girl is clearly frustrated and it becomes known that it is because of finances and location that she attends the school. 

There are several heart-wrenching scenes throughout the film which further pushes the mom to seek help and resources. The last scene of the movie is definitely the best and is really what makes the movie. 

This is a wonderful movie and definitely is a reminder of the kind of love a mother can have for her child. In my opinion, it is definitely worth renting.

96 Minutes

I requested this movie from Netflix knowing that one of my favorite actresses, Brittany Snow, was in it. There have been several movies that have followed similar themes as this one, most well known is Crash. A story of several individuals colliding into one greater story. The movie, while not very well known, did keep my attention. Young individuals trying to better their lives, while certain ones seem almost destined for a life behind bars because of where they have come from. I think the most touching part of the movie is near the end when the man finds Snow's character injured and takes her to the hospital only to be questioned as if he is the one who harmed her. And yet his compassion keeps him in the hospital to be there for the character. The ending is sad when you realize that the fate of the character you were previously rooting for is in fact a life behind bars solidified only by Snow's character confirming that because he did not allow mercy she won't either. I did like this movie and if it was on TV and nothing else I particularly wanted to watch was on, I would watch again.