Fences

Parental Rating: PG-13

Contains: Language    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens December 25, 2016

Runs 139 minutes

Troy (Denzel Washington) and Rose (Viola Davis) Maxson live a working class life in Pittsburgh, raising a son, Cory (Jovan Adepo) and struggling to make ends meet in the 1950's. They also help care for Troy's mentally disabled brother Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson) and occasionally help out Troy's older son Lyons (Russell Hornsby). When Cory begins to get recruited for a football scholarship, Troy's old resentments bubble to the surface. He longs for what he could never have and takes out his bitterness and discontent on the family that has always been by his side. His unhappiness is "fencing" him in and may keep him from realizing that he has all he needs right in front of him.

This is a very heavy film. The Husband and I saw the actual play on Broadway (with Denzel and Viola) on which this film is based. Both were excellent. The movie allows the story to open up just a little and lets the viewer see more of the city and Troy's sanitation worker job. But, it still feels a lot like a play - you can sense the ends of the Acts and the characters do seem very "fenced in". Of course, this is the 1950's and this is an African American family, dealing with issues of race and infidelity. The acting is master class. You can't top Denzel and Viola, and Denzel also directs the film. Again, you won't see finer acting in a film. Just be prepared - the film is long and it is not a feel good movie by any means. Still, go see it! Well worth the price of admission.

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