Here we have the trailer for Fruitvale Station, Michael B. Jordan’s latest step on the way to becoming a movie star. Already something of a festival darling after winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, it plays Cannes in a few weeks and is set for a July 16th release, courtesy of the Weinstein Company. From first-time director Ryan Coogler, it tells the story of Oscar Grant (played by Jordan), a story we Bay Area residents are already sadly familiar with, and his last day before getting shot by BART cop Johannes Mehserle on New Year’s Day 2009. Kevin Durand plays a fictionalized Mehserle, adding to his repertoire of big, mean dipshits.
Basically, there was a fight on the train, and Grant was supposedly “resisting” while being detained by Mehserle. Mehserle, while being filmed by numerous bystanders, said “Get back, I’m gonna taze him.” Only he pulled his gun instead and shot Grant in the back. Grant died the next day. Basically, either Mehserle was an utterly callous sociopath, or a guy who made the ultimate bonehead mistake. There were riots in Oakland, and Mehserle was eventually convicted of involuntary manslaughter and was released from jail in June 2011. I don’t know how you make a movie out of that that isn’t the ultimate downer, but I guess I’d be willing to find out. You can watch some of the videos of the actual incident online, but again, only if you want to be depressed. Anyway, if you need me, I’m gonna go grab a whiskey and open up some veins.
