Fruitvale Station
I approached this with uncertainty as it's 'based on a true story'. And given the story, I was afraid it might have that 'after the fact righteous indignation' that such films can have. It didn't. It mercifully stayed off that course.
In fact, it was a story gently told - full of warmth and, generally speaking, believable (ok, the main man was perhaps a little too reformed to be credible but that's a maybe/maybe not thing). The incident itself was filmed by many witnesses on mobile cameras etc, so I suspect the film's portrayal of it was accurate.
It's not a film that looks to take a balanced view of the incident. That the main man is an innocent victim is unquestionable (the facts speaking arguably for themselves). What the film does do very very well is show us the man that became the victim. A kind of a 'there but for the grace of God' approach. In that respect, it works. And that's how I judge a film; whether it stays true to the goal it sets itself.
I'm not entirely sure that it's worthy of all the accolades it has received but it is none-the-less a very watch-able film, very well directed with some credible and understated performances. I'd watch it again, and there's not too many films I say that of.
