Denzel Washington presents August Wilson's Fences to the mainstream

 

Originally performed as a play in 1983 and noted as August Wilson's most successful screenplay, Fences has finally made it to the big screen. Unfortunately 11 years after the death of August Wilson, a prolific Black author who created theatrical art using casual environment and controversial content centering African American conflicts. Molding Wilson as the Shakespeare of his time who inspired many actors of today, including Denzel Washington.



Washington who stars in both the broadway play and the box office movie, as the lead character Troy, masters each monologue as if he's practiced them throughout his entire career. Co-star Viola Davis who plays his wife Rose, steps a little out side her comfort zone and captures it nicely. Viola as Rose shows both the controlled dominant side of women while containing the emotions that are viewed as vulnerability. After having revealed to her the infedelity of her husband, while being the mediator between Troy and their teenage son, Rose is determined to hold her family together and Viola Davis is the perfect fit for the part. Washington who's known for acting as various characters definitely proves age is not a factor when it comes to talent. The dramatics expressed while being Troy were realistic. If I had not seen or read the play ahead of time, I would've been caught off guard with the developments of the script. All of the actors inside of the movie deserved the role that they were chosen for. Well done you guys.



As for the movie overall, Fences is far from perfect. Diversity in the cinematography is needed. Unlike a play, movies visually describe most things that are discussed, even if they're small flashback like scenes. Very few movies in today's time visually leaves the audience to develop their own imagination of what happened. Nothing is wrong with creating wonder, but for an entire movie, I'll pass. I appreciate Washington, who also directed the movie, staying true to all of the classic monologues and screenplay format. However this a movie which is suppose to be different from a play, in movies the delivery normally doesn't sound prewritten. Fences sounds like the whole movie are monologues, which makes the audience feel as if they're watching a play rather than a movie. Although Tyler Perry productions are unlike August Wilson's, if anyone were to see a Family Reunion the movie they wouldn't think that it was once a play. For some, loosing the screenplay coordinence would've been disappointing, but for me when I want to watch a movie, I want to see a movie. Everything in Fences were verbatim to screenplay and I would've liked them to incorporate a little more fun and creativity inside of the script, which would allow enjoyment for all audiences.