This year, The Weinstein Company will once again be making a big play during Oscar season with multiple titles vying for the big prize (Best Picture) and numerous acting noms. Having won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Awards at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, Fruitvale (now titled Fruitvale Station), Harvey Weinstein picked up the release for $2.5 million. That figure may seem like small potatoes compared to $10+ million Fox Searchlight spent in acquiring The Way, Way Back, but it will be worth it for Harvey if Fruitvale Station becomes a sleeper hit this summer and rides the praise all the way into the fall in the heart of Oscar season.
My interest in the film has to do with Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal as Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008. Jordan came to my attention with watching the TV series Friday Night Lights. Now his name is popping up everywhere – most recently it was in the casting discussion for a new Fantastic Four movie where he would play Johnny Storm.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think this first trailer for Fruitvale is a little rough. Harvey Weinstein may need to think about hiring a different outfit to cut the trailers for his studio’s films. Watch the trailer and decide.
Fruitvale Station is from first-time writer/director Ryan Coogler. In addition to Michael B. Jordan, the film stars Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Chad Michael Murray and Kevin Durrand. Fruitvale opens opposite Grown Ups 2 and Pacific Rim on July 12th.
Click on poster to enlarge.
