Review of Fences (2016) by Dirigiblepulp — 27 Feb 2017

Full of raw power, the dialogue and performances in this are pure vitality. Troy is a compelling character of real human dichotomies, someone you can loathe and love in equal measure. His baseball analogies verge on the embarrassing he's so obsessed with them, which in hindsight makes me a little sad.

This film never comes alive as a film however, it always feels slightly restrained as an obvious adaptation of a play. I've never really understood this critique of plays-into-movies before (feeling that character and dialogue will trump lack of settings and fancy camera work) but watching this, and seeing how some of the scenes are awkward with how the actors are standing around, then randomly sitting down and being so careful with their stage movements. It wasn't fully engaging me viscerally as a film. Too many unnecessary close-ups of people's faces when dialogue becomes "important". Also weird CGI or something with some of the backgrounds and the tree at the end?

I also felt Denzel was projecting a bit too much at times - like he was still giving a stage performance. I understand his character "filled a room" with his personality, and to that extent he succeeds, but I still couldn't shake that feeling. Viola is the best snot cryer in the biz.