Fruitvale Station, the new film starring Michael B. Jordan and written and directed by Ryan Coogler, is based on true events. But it is being criticized for a fictitious scene and the marketing of the film is being slammed for allegedly using the Trayvon Martin trial.

In the film, Jordan stars as Oscar Grant, a Bay Area teen who was shot on Jan. 1, 2009 by a Bay Area Rapid Transit. The officer claimed he meant to use his taser, not his pistol. THe film begins with actual footage from news coverage of the incident, but includes a scene where Grant meets a dog, which is then killed after being run over by a car.

As the Huffington Post notes, the scene can be seen as manipulative, trying to get the audience on Grant’s side since we would now think he’s an animal lover. However, in an interview with the site, Coogler said that wasn’t his intention.

“Yeah, but that's not the intention,” the director explained. “That's not the intention to show that this guy's a great guy. That wasn't the intention at all. And that's fine, that's the risk that you run with a scene like that. I can tell you what the scene was about and why it's there -- because, it's funny, it's a very polarizing scene. Some people get the intention and it's their favorite scene in the movie. Some people hate the whole movie because of the scene. Like, ‘I feel manipulated.’”

Coogler added that he did believe that the scene might be controversial and stressed that he was interested in telling Grant’s story.

Meanwhile, the way the film is being marketed is also being targeted by critics. According to The Wrap, it is being linked to the Trayvon Martin case. “Anytime someone's life is lost and there's an inkling of politics involved, that person is not around to defend himself and his character gets pulled in different directions depending on what side of the fence you sit on. We saw it happen with Trayvon Martin, and it shows no sign of slowing down,” Coogler is quoted as saying in an image posted on its Facebook page.

The site also notes that ads have been run during coverage of the Martin case on cable news.

“It’s absolutely inappropriate and morally wrong to use a high profile case to create publicity and buzz about a movie release,” publicist Angie Meyer told Fox News. “But capitalize on political bias and a high profile case together, and Hollywood thrives on it.”

Fruitvale Station has won wide acclaim since it premiered at Sundance and is being released by The Weinstein Company in limited theaters this weekend.

image: TWC