It is clear from the first scene that director Denzel Washington wants his movie “Fences” to honor the play of the same name.
Some critics argue that the story doesn’t move well from stage to screen.
But the great playwright August Wilson — who won a Pulitzer prize for the play (part of his 10-play Pittsburgh Century Cycle) — wrote the screenplay before his death in 2005 in Seattle. Updated by Tony Kushner, the screenplay still has Wilson’s mark, and I figure he would have liked the movie.
“Fences” opened Christmas Day. Having seen the play’s 2010 revival on Broadway, I had to watch the movie. Most of the film cast reprises their roles from the 2010 production I saw in New York.
Washington is Troy Maxson, a former teen convict who works as a garbage collector. As a young man he played baseball in the professional Negro League. Kept out of the majors mostly for his older age, Troy believes it was due only to the color of his skin.
Viola Davis is Troy’s hard-working and selfless wife, Rose. Steve McKinley Henderson plays Troy’s longtime buddy Jim Bono. Mykelti Williamson is Troy’s brain-injured brother Gabe, a World War II vet. And Russell Hornsby is Lyons, Troy’s musician son from a previous relationship.
Troy’s and Rose’s son Cory is portrayed by Jovan Adepo, who was not in the play. Troy stands in the way of Cory’s intent to play college football because the father still believes that racial discrimination is common in professional sports. And perhaps also because Troy is jealous of Cory’s successes in high school.
Set in the Hill District of Pittsburgh in the 1950s, “Fences” was filmed in that neighborhood earlier this year.
While the story involves a fence that Rose wants Troy to build around their house, it is more about the way people sometimes feel fenced in, the way we fight to keep bad things out or have a need to keep family close at hand. When Troy tells Rose he is going to be a father again with another woman, all these feelings come into play.
As in the play, most of the action takes place on the back patio of the Maxson house.
It’s this that some have criticized. The movie feels more like play on film, some critics said. I disagree.
I love live theater and I would never want to miss seeing an August Wilson play on stage. I was thrilled when my husband and I, from our balcony seats, could see the sweat, snot and tears on the faces of the actors in “Fences.”
But Washington and his crew did a great job filming in Pittsburgh. It is a beautiful movie.
And you can be sure that these actors know their characters, just as Wilson would have wanted them portrayed.
“Fences” (4 stars)
Rating: PG-13, for thematic elements, language and suggestive references
Showing: Alderwood, Everett Stadium, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Pacific Place, Sundance Cinemas, Thornton Place Stadium and Cascade Mall
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