Fences

Name: Fences
Genre: Drama
Released: December 16, 2016
Duration: 139 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 48 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 258 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 258 Ratings

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Fences

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 16, 2016 | PG-13

Starring: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis

Summary: In this adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, an African American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life.

Director: Denzel Washington

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 139 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Terri White

Feb 6, 2017

A simply extraordinary film without crashes, bangs and wallops but full of towering performances delivered with intelligence, power and heart. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

Dec 15, 2016

It’s all too seldom that a feature film combines brilliant acting with a spellbinding flow of language. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Dec 22, 2016

A Great American Play becomes a Great American Film with Fences, Denzel Washington’s letter-faithful adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 22, 2016

Fences is a feast of brilliant acting, in a story that’s sometimes as difficult as it is powerful. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Dec 22, 2016

Fences is perhaps best appreciated as a showcase for the brilliant acting of Washington and Davis. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Nov 22, 2016

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis know their parts here backward and forward, and they, along with the rest of the fine cast, bat a thousand, hitting both the humorous and serious notes. But with this comes a sense that all the conflicts, jokes and meanings are being smacked right on the nose in vivid close-ups, with nothing left to suggestion, implication and interpretation. Read full review

The Playlist Rodrigo Perez

Nov 22, 2016

There’s nothing lost in the translation of Fences, but its high fidelity means there’s little, if any, inspiration to be found within. Read full review

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User Reviews

Ozy

Feb 9, 2017

This movie is about Narcissism. It is a terrible disorder and causes highly dysfunctional families. The movie represents this well - believe me i was raised by a father like this. I have noticed both angry and highly dismissive rants about this film in the user reviews. If my father reviewedThis movie is about Narcissism. It is a terrible disorder and causes highly dysfunctional families. The movie represents this well - believe me i was raised by a father like this. I have noticed both angry and highly dismissive rants about this film in the user reviews. If my father reviewed this movie he would absolutely hate it. Just saying.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

BetterDays105

Dec 29, 2016

I can't believe I'm saying this: Better than seeing it on Broadway six years ago. Denzel is triumphant as is Viola. One of the best films I've seen this year.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

DestituteCritic

Jan 1, 2017

This movie was wonderful and, I think, well-made, although not for everyone!
It focuses on a troubled man, his family, and the circumstances that cause events in one another's lives. It is a sad movie, but great performances from Denzel and Viola, as well as the secondary cast.
Well written,This movie was wonderful and, I think, well-made, although not for everyone!
It focuses on a troubled man, his family, and the circumstances that cause events in one another's lives. It is a sad movie, but great performances from Denzel and Viola, as well as the secondary cast.
Well written, story wraps up well, excellent acting, slow, but well paced. Not everyone will appreciate the relatively small location of the movie, and there's basically no action; all in all a slow, easy-on-the-eyes, but tugging at the heart movie.

9/10… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

amheretojudge

Oct 2, 2019

Fortunately, Washington has monstrous performances in his pocket, he does not and will not take them for granted.

Fences Denzel Washington, an actor-turned-director, directs his films just as any other actor would, should. And if done properly, just as he does, the film is going to beFortunately, Washington has monstrous performances in his pocket, he does not and will not take them for granted.

Fences

Denzel Washington, an actor-turned-director, directs his films just as any other actor would, should. And if done properly, just as he does, the film is going to be emotionally fluent in its vocab. And the characters are respected more than the plot and the performance given the priority. The film is crafted around those performances. Almost as if it was created to showcase their talents to the best of their ability. It rattles the Academy members and announces in their ears. A call for attention. And boy what fun it is to see them give what they would like to. Adapting the infamous play for the screen, Washington tries his best to make it not seem like a play.

He makes things mobile, he keeps characters apart as much as he can, he novelizes the idea, he keeps montage sequences to make time flow. These are the scenes where the film comes alive. For these are the scenes where the truth is spoken. Fences is a bit Shakespeare-ean and a bit verbally challenged. In the sense that the characters call out to their fate and claim their destiny as a part of pain and endurance. And it is verbally dysfunctional just as Noah Baumbach's world.

Which I think is the best for I love these sorts of narration. And as beautifully does it capture the ambiguous subtextual theme, it also gives away the final result at a certain point. And that is the only tiny element of the script that kept bugging me. For the real drama is the thought provoking ideas bouncing in our head as each of these characters are studied and portrayed. Now, what happens is the definite answer orders us to stop letting it wander. The imagination is held back and as mentioned before, the emotions takes charge, the performance steers the film then.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FranzHcritic

Jan 1, 2017

I find the film an actor's feat for nearly everyone, including Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. I liked the atmosphere of being very close knit, like a play, but I also felt it grown tiresome on me, especially with the repetitive monologues. The film was also too long (I can recall aboutI find the film an actor's feat for nearly everyone, including Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. I liked the atmosphere of being very close knit, like a play, but I also felt it grown tiresome on me, especially with the repetitive monologues. The film was also too long (I can recall about four different points where the movie could have ended before it did). Washington just made the film too much like a play, and not enough like a film.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Telleril

Dec 30, 2016

Sad to say, but this movie is overhyped and praised by the mainstream. Why praise a stale movie such as this, internal politics and the name behind it. Denzel Washington is a very fine actor and Viola Davis is truly astounding, but to say this movie is the best of the year has meSad to say, but this movie is overhyped and praised by the mainstream. Why praise a stale movie such as this, internal politics and the name behind it. Denzel Washington is a very fine actor and Viola Davis is truly astounding, but to say this movie is the best of the year has me questioning journalist's judgment. I would see it regardless, but know that this screenplay is not a screenplay, but a stage play that was put on film. Denzel you are a brilliant actor, but you shouldn't have directed your own movie that is a play adaptation while playing the lead.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Nazgulero

Mar 4, 2017

I could stand about an hour of this incomprehensible babbling. I have no idea what this movie was about. It was nauseating, they never stopped talking. Who talks like that ? Please, learn the English language before you make a movie.

1 of 14 users found this helpful113

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70	#70 Best Movie of 2016
95	#95 Most Discussed Movie of 2016