Although a powerful cinematic adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1950s set family drama, the Denzel Washington directed Fences cannot escape its stage origins.
Wilson’s film is centred around powerhouse performances by Denzel Washington as the troubled and tragic patriarch Troy Maxson and Viola Davis as his long-suffering wife, Rose.
As with the play, the action takes place in the confined, claustrophobic backyard of the Maxson Pittsburgh family home. As with the play, it’s about dialogue rather than ‘action’. As family members come and go, so marriage, love, poverty and Troy himself are all confronted.
It’s hard-hitting stuff – but at times also a little unwielding. Aggrandising on stage is very different to the less forgiving immediacy of screen.
Nominated for 4 Oscars in 2017 (best film adapated screenplay, best actor), won 1 – Viola Davis for supporting actress.
Rating: 73%
Director: Denzel Washington (Antwone Fisher, The Great Debaters)
Writer: August Wilson (The Piano Tuner) – adapted from his own play
Main cast: Denzel Washington (Training Day, American Gangster), Viola Davis (The Help, Doubt)
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