Does great source material translate into a great movie? Not always, as our review of “Fences“ suggests that sometimes sticking far too closely to the original text can render the results uncinematic. Nonetheless, our opinion is in the minority of the critical notices so far, and the latest directorial effort from Denzel Washington remains very strongly in the Oscar conversation.
Starring Washington and Viola Davis, the film is based on the Pulitizer Prize winning play by August Wilson that tells the story of Troy Maxson, a former baseball player who never saw his dream of going pro realized, and now makes ends meet as a sanitation worker, while harboring no shortage of regrets and pain. And it’s those around him who feel the sting as he unburdens the weight on his shoulders.
Also featuring Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Willimason, and Saniyya Sidney, “Fences” arrives on Christmas Day.