Read Positive User Reviews for Fences

7

iCronicAug 9, 2017

The script is thicker than Viola's ass. Im not a fan of stage plays but the performances make Fences worth to watch. Wouldn't surprise me if they get the double Oscar

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

FolderMathJun 25, 2017

A much more enjoyable movie than expected, for me. While there is never a decent shot of the wooden fence that he builds around his house, I felt like I didn't really need it. Viola Davis and Denzel Washington are amazing as usual, andA much more enjoyable movie than expected, for me. While there is never a decent shot of the wooden fence that he builds around his house, I felt like I didn't really need it. Viola Davis and Denzel Washington are amazing as usual, and Gabriel's character was well done. The music fit the nature of the movie, so that was nice. It's good to see true, gritty reality after watching so many movies like Doctor Strange and Wonder Woman.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

The3AcademySinsAug 5, 2017

Fences is a great adaptation of an american classic. It's the best filming of a play you will ever watch. The acting is incredible across the board, the cinematography is excellent, and the story will leave you thinking long after you leaveFences is a great adaptation of an american classic. It's the best filming of a play you will ever watch. The acting is incredible across the board, the cinematography is excellent, and the story will leave you thinking long after you leave the theater.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

FranzHcriticJan 1, 2017

I find the film an actor's feat for nearly everyone, including Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. I liked the atmosphere of being very close knit, like a play, but I also felt it grown tiresome on me, especially with the repetitiveI find the film an actor's feat for nearly everyone, including Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. I liked the atmosphere of being very close knit, like a play, but I also felt it grown tiresome on me, especially with the repetitive monologues. The film was also too long (I can recall about four different points where the movie could have ended before it did). Washington just made the film too much like a play, and not enough like a film.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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10

OzyFeb 9, 2017

This movie is about Narcissism. It is a terrible disorder and causes highly dysfunctional families. The movie represents this well - believe me i was raised by a father like this. I have noticed both angry and highly dismissive rants aboutThis movie is about Narcissism. It is a terrible disorder and causes highly dysfunctional families. The movie represents this well - believe me i was raised by a father like this. I have noticed both angry and highly dismissive rants about this film in the user reviews. If my father reviewed this movie he would absolutely hate it. Just saying.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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9

thedaywalkerFeb 7, 2017

This is as intense and deep as a movie can get, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are amazing and watching them is just something out of the ordinary, there are intense moments almost every minute that if you blink you'll miss them, and theThis is as intense and deep as a movie can get, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are amazing and watching them is just something out of the ordinary, there are intense moments almost every minute that if you blink you'll miss them, and the screenplay was just outstanding August Wilson did wonders, and to think Denzel managed to pull off a performance like that and still direct the movie wonderfully, just made me respect him even more… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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9

MatSnowieFeb 11, 2017

There is a great tradition in Hollywood for adapting plays to the screen. You can always tell when a film has come this way because of it's extended scenes, small casts, and grand dialogue. At times it can be Shakespearean–which is to say,There is a great tradition in Hollywood for adapting plays to the screen. You can always tell when a film has come this way because of it's extended scenes, small casts, and grand dialogue. At times it can be Shakespearean–which is to say, long and daunting for most audiences. Other times it can bring film back to its roots.

We don't always need a grand score and special effects. We don't always need the auteur designs of a Wes Anderson set or a Kathryn Bigelow action scene. Sometimes we just need to see these performers play a scene while we (the camera) sit back and experience the story.

Like Doubt or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fences is about the script and the performers. And Denzel Washington understood this when he put together this perfect cast and let them play it all out on a real Pittsburg street. It's a raw and realistic story captures a time and place and people as well as anything flashy with twice the budget could have.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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10

wadisplaceDec 27, 2016

An outstanding, deep, and moving movie. This movie has twists and turns that you don't see coming. It is moving, because every person can identify with the situation in the movie. This is the kind of movie that sticks with you long afterAn outstanding, deep, and moving movie. This movie has twists and turns that you don't see coming. It is moving, because every person can identify with the situation in the movie. This is the kind of movie that sticks with you long after you leave the theater.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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9

moviemitch96Dec 25, 2016

Despite not having seen the Pulitzer-winning play this was adapted from, this was an undeniable well-acted, potent, and well-rounded film that felt all the more fresh and compelling to watch having not seen the play prior. While the feelingDespite not having seen the Pulitzer-winning play this was adapted from, this was an undeniable well-acted, potent, and well-rounded film that felt all the more fresh and compelling to watch having not seen the play prior. While the feeling and style of a play remains, this doesn't hold the film down in the slightest and remains and intriguing watch due mainly in part to the top-notch performances from Denzel Washington (who also brilliantly directs the film) and Viola Davis, who will almost certainly garner much deserved Oscar recognition for their work! Overall, it's a solid, well-told story with some of the best powerhouse acting I've seen all year!… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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8

TrevorsViewFeb 3, 2017

Unless music is involved, nobody these days talks enough about the great live Broadway performances, but more so the movie or TV series they are streaming on a mobile screen. So now, Denzel Washington (Malcolm X, Training Day) sets a cleverUnless music is involved, nobody these days talks enough about the great live Broadway performances, but more so the movie or TV series they are streaming on a mobile screen. So now, Denzel Washington (Malcolm X, Training Day) sets a clever strategy in place to create better public appreciation of the performing arts: using his experience acting in August Wilson’s play, Fences, he combines the humanistic, real-time feel of a play with the eye-to-eye level of power created by the culturally obsessed virtual screen.

How does he accomplish that you may ask? Well, only one single set takes up the majority of the film’s runtime, giving the feel of one single continuous scene, only relying on dialogue to carry the tension. The genius fusion of these two artistic mediums results in a heated, unsettling character drama which sticks to your ribs and controls you.

The living situation of the run-down family is meticulously detailed within their all-Negro neighborhood. Mr. Washington plays the indecent ruling patriarch over the home, a full-time colored garbage man, and the home’s sole breadwinner. The mother played by Viola Davis (Doubt, The Help) stays at home, wondering where her self-centered husband goes after work each day. The oldest son played by Russell Hornsby (Grimm, Lincoln Heights) plans to pursue a music career, with money bargained by his unwilling father. The youngest son played by Jovan Adepo (The Leftovers) still survives under their roof, dictated by his unloving father. As we see their few highs and many lows under the heated sun, attention never gets lost with the crucial information learnt about their hearts.

Denzel Washington proves how his experience acting on Broadway has prepared him for his tremendous screen direction. He stages the actors to express the household’s separation, however much the religious decorations on the house’s borders force them together. Although the sets look way too much like on stage, hurting the ability to feel engrossed in an authentic looking worn-down predicament. But the theatrical greatness comes less from the theatrical set, and more from the theatrical dialogue.

Everything coming out the actors’ lips parallels a live show, while also imitating talk by genuine people. They talk aplenty about their personal issues growing up, so much so, you need to pay close attention to remember something important. In fact, the dialogue pacing spits out in the speed of a play, rather unsuitable within cinematic bounds, where the actors are not the only visual element to the story. So you may have to put your glowing screen in your pocket away while you ingest your undivided attention to the feature.

Gradually, the tension between the tiny cast grows and grows from a serious lack of faith. Then suddenly, a devastating plot twist strikes you with snake fangs, pulling the less active characters out from the shadows to take charge. Never before since The Sixth Sense could a plot twist shake you so unnervingly. Even then, you won’t as feel shaken as Viola Davis was while delivering her dialogue of epiphany, commanding true, powerful tears from the ideal independent woman who understands the world’s needs.

The discomforting new nature of this Tony-nominated play pulls back the picket fence to reveal a completely different side to the American Dream at the dawn of the Civil Rights Era. While the lack of any redeeming White characters gives the race an overly bad name, it helps to recreate the play’s unique depiction of a fallen African-American family inside a changing world.

So due to recent events, everybody must see Fences right away, no matter their skin color. Both 2016 and 2017 needed a reminder on the importance of building fences: who are we keeping away from our existence? Who are we keeping in to better ourselves? What do we tear down to help our loved ones be better than we ever were? Such questions explain the vitality of in-person storytelling including stage productions: it forces us to look closer and see people in person for who they are, which in my perspective, we could benefit from.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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7

LamontRaymondJan 16, 2017

Viola Davis is pretty spectacular in this film - Denzel's directing is on the money. I enjoyed it greatly, but I didn't want it to dwell for long in cliches. It didn't. I kept thinking of "The Great Santini" as the tough father/sonViola Davis is pretty spectacular in this film - Denzel's directing is on the money. I enjoyed it greatly, but I didn't want it to dwell for long in cliches. It didn't. I kept thinking of "The Great Santini" as the tough father/son relationship developed.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

TVJerryJan 10, 2017

This is a screen adaptation of August Wilson's play about a strict and restricted black father (played by Denzel Washington, who also directed). He verbally bullies his wife (Viola Davis) and son (Jovan Adepo), while ranting about hisThis is a screen adaptation of August Wilson's play about a strict and restricted black father (played by Denzel Washington, who also directed). He verbally bullies his wife (Viola Davis) and son (Jovan Adepo), while ranting about his authority and significance. While Wilson's language borders on poetic, the father's unsympathetic character makes the situations hard to handle. Of course, the performances are superb with Davis' sensitive portray illuminating the screen. Director Washington has kept every moment of this long encounter compelling (it runs 2:19) with crackling energy and dynamic force. Still, it feels like a cinematic staging of a theatrical presentation with the attendant embellished dialogue, hyper-focused encounters and larger than life emotions.… Expand

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7

NedRyerson1Feb 15, 2017

Fences isn’t an ambitious movie, it’s simple, straight to the point and center in daily human conflict. The story follows a man, hardworking, struggling to reach end of the month, with a humble home, loving wife and conflicting children. ThisFences isn’t an ambitious movie, it’s simple, straight to the point and center in daily human conflict. The story follows a man, hardworking, struggling to reach end of the month, with a humble home, loving wife and conflicting children. This movie is a slap in the face from reality, teaches that the world ain’t sunshine and rainbows, that dreaming is dangerous and the path for black people is twice (or even more) as difficult, due to hidden racism. It evaluates human behavior, concerning humility, stubbornness, selfishness, fear to death, living day by day and projecting into future; and human relationships in marriage, family nucleus, father and son, and friendship. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are marvelous and she is especially heartbreaking. The title is very interesting, because of what it represent for the protagonist lifestyle; fences are for keeping people away and mark your territory, nevertheless, they are also for maintaining inside the things that you care about.… Expand

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8

WaelJan 23, 2017

A terrific take on family issues, love, and forgiveness, almost everything about 'Fences' works. With grand performances from Denzel Washington and Viola Davis (get that Oscar, girl!), the story builds up, and comes to a very pleasingA terrific take on family issues, love, and forgiveness, almost everything about 'Fences' works. With grand performances from Denzel Washington and Viola Davis (get that Oscar, girl!), the story builds up, and comes to a very pleasing conclusion. The minimalistic set is a plus, the multi-layered meaning of the title and the fact that the film is packed with emotions and feelings gives it a one-of-a-kind taste. 8/10.… Expand

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9

BeeceeJan 5, 2017

I'm a big theater fan, so I've seen most of August Wilson's Pittsburgh cycle plays, and Fences is his most awarded and arguably best play. It takes place mainly in the 50's and concerns Troy Maxon, former Negro League baseball player nowI'm a big theater fan, so I've seen most of August Wilson's Pittsburgh cycle plays, and Fences is his most awarded and arguably best play. It takes place mainly in the 50's and concerns Troy Maxon, former Negro League baseball player now trash collector, his wife Rose, two sons and brain damaged war veteran brother. Denzel does a great job as Troy, who is not a totally sympathetic person, but the movie belongs to Viola Davis as his long-suffering wife. Yes, it is obviously an adaptation of a play, but the dialogue is terrific and all the characters are realistic and well-rounded. Kudos should also be given to the actor portraying his brother. You may not like this film if you are mainly into action movies, but I was thoroughly involved with the plot and the characters, despite my familiarity with the play.… Expand

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8

badgerryan19May 19, 2017

Denzel Washington's fourth directed film is by far his best. A fantastic adaption of the Broadway play. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis both give Oscar worthy performances. It felt like you can not look away or breath during this film causeDenzel Washington's fourth directed film is by far his best. A fantastic adaption of the Broadway play. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis both give Oscar worthy performances. It felt like you can not look away or breath during this film cause every word in the movie is incredibly important to the story. I loved that there weren't many scenes just extremely long takes. Every scene starts with a small conversation then builds and builds and builds. It was truly amazing. This movie will most likely get nominated for best picture… Expand

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7

junesooleeMay 23, 2017

watching this film is like watching an actual theatrical play which is funny cause this movie is a film adaptation to a play. Reason why I enjoy this film was because of the acting and the acting in this movie is fantastic.

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8

GreatMartinDec 26, 2016

Viola Davis as Rose, in “Fences”, makes you afraid to breathe because you don’t want to miss a word, an emotion, she says, and shows on her face, but there are two particular scenes that are among the most mesmerizing ever seen on screen.Viola Davis as Rose, in “Fences”, makes you afraid to breathe because you don’t want to miss a word, an emotion, she says, and shows on her face, but there are two particular scenes that are among the most mesmerizing ever seen on screen. Denzel Washington, as Troy, her husband, equals her performance but, unfortunately, never stops talking!

The Pulitzer Prize winning play written by August Wilson, who also wrote the screenplay, uses words like poetry but it is almost as if he didn’t want to cut a word of his for the screen and Washington, who also directed, gave him his lead as did producer Tony Kushner, also a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. Plays are naturally ‘wordy’ and films are a different medium so while they may work on stage it doesn’t always work on film.

The director opens the film with some street scenes, a bar, following the garbage truck Troy works on, in a church but most takes place within the home and in the backyard of Rose and Troy’s home. Washington makes a few editing mistakes but he gets first rate performances of all his actors including himself.

Stephen Henderson, as Bono, Troy’s longtime friend knows the man and mostly accepts him for who he is while Russell Hornsby, as Troy’s son from another marriage, does not see himself as a failed musician but in his thirties still comes along on Fridays, his dad’s payday to borrow a few dollars. There is also Troy’s older brother who has a metal plate in his head and is brain damaged, due from his fighting in WW 2, played by Mykelti Williamson, is almost a cliché on screen while would be more believable on stage. In the latter part of the film young actress Saniyya Sidney shows Washington directs children to be as children are, not an older actress playing a child.

One of the main conflicts is between Troy and his high school football player son Cory, played by Jovan Adepo, with the father being particularly hard on his son. Is it for the son’s own good or is that just the way the man is?

Troy is not a particular nice person, though at times he can show a sense of humor, he can be, and usually is, hurtful to all around him. We try to like him mainly because we have come to love Rose and want to understand why she not only married this man but stayed with him for the next 18 years. Davis has a scene where she tries to explain to her son exactly that but we have listened to Troy talk way too much negatively, especially to his son, to all those around him to completely accept what she is saying. In addition Troy betrays Rose which would destroy a weaker woman than her.

“Fences” is a ‘must see’ movie if no other reason than to see Viola Davis but Denzel Washington and the rest of the cast are fine too. There is also the plus hearing August Wilson’s words on screen, with the promise of the other 9 plays he has written regarding different decades of Black Americans lives, being brought to the screen, all combine to get you in the movie theatre.… Expand