Fences is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name by August Wilson. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis also starred in the stage version of this story, even winning Tony Awards during their run. Denzel was a very good choice to adapt the play for the screen, since he obviously has a lot of passion about the source material. What adaptations always run the risk of when moving from the stage to the screen is that they are two very different mediums of entertainment. They look different, they sound different, and they feel different when telling a story. There have been many successful adaptations of plays into films, by capturing the spirit of the source material and transforming it into something new. This film, at least as far as I can tell, adheres very closely to the play, and while that does keep the story intact, it feels more like a play than a film at times.
Denzel Washington is the creative backbone of this film, and he delivers a perfect performance. It's pretty much a cliché at this point to say that Denzel is a good actor, because that's just a fact of life, but he has such a strong presence on-screen. That presence is necessary, because Troy is a very complex and in some ways unlikable character. He's a burnout alcoholic who's stuck in life and frustrated. Denzel manages to always keep the pain and regret at the forefront of his character, even when he's putting on a joyful front, bouncing between the true and false sides of Troy masterfully. Viola Davis is the only actor who manages to overshadow Denzel in certain scenes, and she delivers the most emotionally affecting moment of the film. There wasn't a weak link among the cast, with everyone portraying a different, essential part of Troy's life.
The writing is the other strongest aspect of the film, and is absolutely worthy of the awards that it has won. The dialogue always moves at a cracking pace, with every actor working in perfect harmony with the words. There's no unnecessary or awkward pausing, although I did feel that certain scenes felt a little too rehearsed. Maybe it's just the pace of the dialogue, but it doesn't quite sound natural in certain scenes. Those moments pulled me out of the story somewhat, and made me think about the stage version of the story more than he film itself. Still, the film doesn't lose any momentum from those brief moments. I do think that there were a few things which could have been trimmed down, but nothing feels so unnecessary that it should have been cut. If anything, the amount of characters and sub-plots that arise over the course of the film only reinforce the pressures and struggles that Troy faces. Not absolutely everything works, but the highs far outnumber the lows.
There's something inexplicably engaging about Fences. Being such a straightforward drama with so many scenes that run for so long, I expected my interest to be lost, but it never was. There's nothing impressive about the film on a cinematic level; almost every scene is staged exactly like it would be on a stage, and the cinematography is certainly good, but nothing revolutionary. And yet, I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. Maybe it's because the writing is so fantastic, because even though it hits some dramatic beats that aren't entirely original, it feels fresh and different. For as long as the film is, its length is never a detriment. While some scenes do go on a bit long, the multiple dramatically and emotionally powerful moments kept me wanting more. Even though I was essentially watching a man's life fall further and further apart, it balanced tragedy with genuinely heartfelt moments very effectively.
I think the only "flaw" of this film is that it feels exactly like a play. This isn't a story that demanded too much dramatic padding, because the emotion and the characters are what propels everything forward, but the cinematography and acting style feel like they're meant more for the stage than the screen. Scenes go on and on and on, and while they're consistently engaging, it's the kind of engagement that I feel when I watch plays, not movies. That's not necessarily an bad thing, because enjoyment is enjoyment, but it was a strange experience. I would actually really like to see the play version of this story, because the moments that really hit home - through dialogue and performance - would likely be enhanced in a theatre environment. The ideal situation would be seeing it onstage with the exact same cast, and this film is about as close to that as I can get.
Watching Fences marks the first time that I've seen every Best Picture nominee for the Oscars in a year. Beyond that personal landmark, it's been a very interesting experience to see so many films that I likely never would have seen before. Fences surprised me, engaged me, and delivered a story that moved me more than I ever expected. It's boosted by some of the finest performances I've ever seen from actors that I adore, and it's a great adaptation of its source material. It's a very human story, and doesn't pull any punches in regards to the emotional turmoil that the characters face. Since the dialogue is the heart and soul of the play, that was the most important element to get right, and Fences nailed it. Denzel Washington isn't just a great actor, he's also a great director, and his love and passion for this play creates a film that I can only assume is just as engaging as the source material.
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