“You gotta take the crooked with the straights.”- Troy Maxson
Fences Review by Myla Tosatto
Fences contains three of my favorite things: Baseball (extra points because it is Negro League Baseball!), Tony award winning ‘anythings’, and Denzel Washington’s voice. I mean, Denzel could just talk at me for two hours straight, and I would be entertained. Well, talk he did and entertained I was! Golden Globe nominated Washington stars as Troy Maxson, a charismatic cad of a garbage man in Pittsburgh in the 1950’s. Washington also directed the movie (which will surely be Oscar bait). Golden Globe nominated Viola Davis plays his wife Rose as perfectly as possible. Rose is all hope and fear and hurt and anger all balled up and ready to burst. The cast is rounded out by the terribly talented actors: Jovan Adepo (Cory), Russel Hornsby (Lyons), Mykelti Williamson (Gabriel), Saniyya Sidney (Raynell) and KC NATIVE, Stephen McKinley Henderson (Jim Bono). This movie is based on the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning theatrical drama Fences by August Wilson (who also wrote the screenplay) and therefore is presented as a play that you would see on the stage. Just sit back and imagine you’re in a Broadway theater and enjoy the show!
If you are planning to see Fences as your “holiday movie”, be sure to take along mature family members since the movie explores family and race relations. The movie is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some suggestive references. It might be a “heavy” movie for a younger audience member to handle. However, it is an excellent jumping off point for many heartfelt discussions.
CAST: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sydney
DIRECTOR: Denzel Washington
FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sydney. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington and Todd Black.
RATING: PG-13