Review of Fences (2016) by Ant B — 01 Mar 2017

Oscar Watch Short Review.

Rating: 4.

The Good:

- Super stellar performances by both Viola Davis (definitely deserving of her Best Supporting Actress Win) and remarkably Denzel Washington (who I've never uber loved in anything). I think if Casey Affleck hadn't had deservingly won Best Actor then I would have wanted Denzel to win it.

- Especially since Denzel also DIRECTED Fences. Shocking as that sounds, he took a page out of Ben Affleck's Actor-to-Director bible in doing a standout job behind the director's chair (except for one small but key scene which I will get to below).

- Even though Fences is a nearly 2 and a half hour movie of just talking and minimal scene changes, I still found it gripping and engaging. Kudos again to Denzel.

- Great adaptation to film by August Wilson from a stage play he also wrote.

The Not So Good:

- Not too much actually. Except for the one pivotal scene where Denzel's Troy Maxson lifts up a baseball bat and stares into the sky beckoning Death to come out and fight. The scene then cuts to black. Moments later it picks up after his death but I was left rewinding trying to find out "But how?".

Lasting Remarks:

Another fundamental movie of African Americans trying to fight for equality, power and recognition in the 50's, brilliantly handled and acted with skill by Denzel with an emotionally shattering performance by Viola Davis.