'Fences' Review

Image from Coming Soon

By Darian Scalamoni

            In a year full of all different films that are to be considered as Oscar worthy, a movie that it seems that many are talking about is Fences based on the stage play by August Wilson. The film follows a working class African-American father who is trying to raise a family in the late 50s but also dealing with his past, present and future.

            First thing to know about this movie is that it truly feels like a stage play, similar in style to Glengarry Glen Ross. It only has a few locations and is paced incredibly well for being over two hours but it goes by rather quickly. The main character, Troy Maxson is played by Denzel Washington in a terrific role and performance worthy of an Academy Award nomination. He’s a simple man who goes to work every day as a garbage man but constantly reminisces of his days as a baseball player who played in the Negro Leagues alongside later professionals Satchell Paige and Josh Gibson. In addition to that, Troy also has two children, Lyons, who he had in a previous relationship who comes by on random Friday’s to borrow money and pursues a career as a musician. Also, he has Cory, played by Jovan Adepo (who holds his own in an acting showcase) who Troy had with his current wife, Rose, played by Viola Davis.

            Throughout the movie, the audience learns more and more about Troy’s life including his hard past in which he had to move out of his childhood home at the young age of 14 and discovering his brother Gabe, who was mentally impaired due to his service in WWII. Denzel does a tremendous job of being truthful and mentally strict due to his harsh come up and Rose is the absolute opposition to Troy throughout the film. Davis is the tender, motherly influence that helps push the movie along but there isn’t much to really push through as a viewer due to the material being so compelling. The script might be one of the best of the year because of its already incredible Pulitzer Prize winning reputation on stage. August Wilson, the man who originally wrote the play’s script also wrote the screenplay before he passed away in 2005.

            Davis truly shines in her role as a wife dealing with the hardships of what is becoming a broken marriage. As she sees her husband turn to the bottle more times than not, it becomes harder and harder for her to learn of his other actions surrounding his current life and the way that he treats their son Cory, who has become a great athlete just as Troy did. The actors have passion and power throughout the entirety of the movie and though it is a simple tale of working class people getting by, there is an emotional core to the movie that hit harder with imagery unlike any movies I had seen in 2016.

            All in all, Denzel’s third movie in the director’s chair was the best he’s helmed thus far and was complete with one of the greatest performances of his career. It’s an honor and a privilege to see him and Viola Davis reprise their amazing roles from the Broadway production in which they both won Tony Awards. Oscars could be in their futures as well for both actors and the achievement of a formidable drama that provides audiences with a range of emotions and show you how unjust the world really can be.

8.6/10