Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz
Fictionalized account of the shooting of a young, unarmed black man by transit authority police on New Years Day 2009.
The film presents a sympathetic portrait of Oscar Grant - loving father, son, boyfriend - who has had a checkered life but is presented as trying to go straight. Steadicam, you-are-there approach worked perfectly to place this guy and his circle in a social context. The film confirms my sense that MD has star quality...this was a meaty role she easily carried. Kudos also to Octavia Butler in a strong supporting role.
I wish they had split screen time between Oscar and the cop who shot him. Both of these people were trapped in roles that have reduced choices and guaranteed bad results. Somewhere basic humanity has gotten lost.
This came across as agitprop - irresistibly done.
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