Viola Davis plays the long-suffering wife of Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) in August Wilson’s Fences. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson and his friend, Bono (played by Buffalo actor Stephen McKinley Henderson) are garbage men trying to make it in a racist society. Troy is challenging the policy that only white men can drive garbage trucks while blacks have to life the garbage cans. Troy has issues with the son of his first marriage, Lyons. Lyons (played by Russell Hornsby) rejects Troy’s offers of getting him a job picking up garbage. Lyons opts for playing guitar. Troy’s other son, Cory (played by Jovan Adepo) finds himself blocked by his father when a College Recruiter wants to offer him an athletic scholarship. Troy is against it. As in most August Wilson plays, the character clash over decisions they make. The movie version is a tad longer than the play version because of the addition of a couple of scenes. Viola Davis should win an Oscar for her role in Fences. GRADE: B+
Excellent acting all over the place here!
Dan, you are so right! Even the minor roles are performed with panache!
I don’t think I have seen a Viola Davis film before.
Prashant, Viola Davis was only in the movie DOUBT for about 5 minutes, but she stole the movie. She was also very good in THE HELP. Brilliant actress!
We saw James Earl Jones in the play. May get around to the movie this month. Today: HIDDEN FIGURES.
Jeff, you and Jackie are going to love HIDDEN FIGURES!
You’re right. As far as I’m concerned, I’m willing to give my Best Picture award now. Jackie found it very moving.
It was my second favorite movie of the year. I thought it was a very strong performance by DW too.
Patti, I read August Wilson’s play before I went to see the movie. A few scenes were added to the movie version. I hope the success of FENCES motivates more movies based on August Wilson’s plays.
It did get 4 major Academy Award nominations – Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, and Screenplay – which can’t hurt.
Jeff, although the movie version includes additional scenes, it still feels like a play. The setting is fairly static. But, FENCES is well worth seeing.
Dramas are my least favorite type, but I’ll see this, just on hbo or netflix. DW and Davis are incredible actors. I’m hoping to get to the theater for hidden figures, but still haven’t seen star wars yet. The theaters I like to go to are hard to get to now with the rain. the roads get flooded (built in a river bed) We’re supposed to dry off this week, though
Maggie, translating a play into a movie isn’t easy. Some critics have complained about how static FENCES is.
Maggie, we would both give HIDDEN FIGURES our highest recommendation. Jackie says she cried through half the movie.
Jeff, I had tears in my eyes when that woman was forced to run a half mile to a “Colored” bathroom. I don’t understand such cruelty.
Haven’t seen Fences or Hidden Figures. Saw The Silence today. Has to be my favorite movie of the year and no Oscar nod. Not for everyone tho. Glad to see Hacksaw Ridge got nominated. Mel brought a lot of baggage to this and I thought it might affect the voting.
Steve, I really liked CAPTAIN FANTASTIC which didn’t get a lot of love by the Oscar folks, either.
I was disappointed in Captain Fantastic. Started out okay but I didn’t care for the last half. Good performances tho.
Steve, I had the same feeling about CAPTAIN FANTASTIC. Great start, weak finish. I suspect the director and screenwriter didn’t really know how to wrap things up at the end. So, they played it safe.