By Emilio Frenk.
Director: Denzel Washington
Cast: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Saniyya Sidney and Mykelti Williamson.
Rating: Very Good.
Two Time Academy Award Winner Denzel Washington directs, acts and produces “Fences” his third movie as a director and I was very impressed with Washington’s directorial skills.
Based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, “Fences” takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 1950’s and tells the story of Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) a waste collector who is married to Rose (Viola Davis) and constantly hangs out with his best friend and co worker Jim Bono (Stephen Henderson).
Both Troy and Rose raised their son Cory (Jovan Adepo), who wants to become a football player despite of his father’s prejudgements and resentments towards sports.
One day Rose asks Troy to build a Fence; eventually Troy will asks his son to build it with him which will lead to conflicts with Cory since his dream is to become a professional football player and his father´s constant refusal on letting his son pursue his dream.
Now Troy will have to make the correct choices or he will loose his family for good due to his behaviour and resentment towards society.
“Fences” not only is a movie that is very well acted, but it’s very well directed.
Denzel Washington knew how to direct every single one of his cast including himself and delivered very good performances.
The screenplay written by August Wilson, who passed away but it was completed it’s a deep and truthful film that explains with detail how the average the life of family who have struggles and limitations that lead to frustration.
I liked the way how elements like anger, resentment and ignorance were portrayed in the film in a way that has never seen before.
I sustained that Denzel Washington is one of the most important actors in the business and this film proves it.
Since his debut film as a director “Antwone Fisher” in 2002 which he also acted in, Washington knows how to direct this kind of films were the inner conflicts and external of the characters are reflected from the beginning.
Although the movie is very theatrical since it’s based in a Broadway Play but it works at all levels.
The cinematography by Charlotte Bruus Christensen is beautifullycaptured and the way she shot every single frame with detail and the contrasts she portrayed with every moment of the film that involved the loneliness and emotions of the characters worked at all levels
The score composed by Marcelo Zarvos captures every single moment that you feel the characters and the way he used those key elements that engage us with them.
If you are going to see “Fences” please be patient with the dialogue and do your research before watching this movie.
Another performance that I was in awe was with Jovan Adepo, who made an incredible debut byplayingin Cory the film. He brought so much realism to his character that you believe all the conflicts his character is havind due to his estranged relationship with Washington’s character.
Mykelti Williamson who portrays Washington’s mental disabled brother in the film is amazing as well and delivers one of his best performances of his career.
I do believe that “Fences” is amovie that can land a couple of Academy Award Nominations in Febraury for both Denzel Washingotn and Viola Davis for their magnificent performances.
With that being said, “Fences” is one of the best films of 2016 and I give it a huge recommendation for it’s acting and directing.