Shuddering footage extrapolated from a cellphone shows a group of black men sitting on a station floor. One is thrown down and a bang stings the air. Fruitvale Station begins with an ending.

Michael B. Jordan infuses Oscar Grant III with a strutting warmth. He isn’t a perfect human being; he’s flawed and one of the guys, but we want to be around him. He’s trying to be a better man, and his charm hooks like a magnet.

Fruitvale Station is an intimate portrayal of a young man’s life and how senselessly, and suddenly, it was taken away from him.

It can feel the tiniest bit manipulative at certain points, but this can be overlooked. Ryan Coogler, aided by a wonderfully compelling performance from his central actor, has created an emotionally strong film that stays in the heart and corners of the eyes for a long time after the credits.

RATING 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer

DIRECTOR: Ryan Coogler

WRITER: Ryan Coogler

SYNOPSIS: The purportedly true story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.