Fences

  • 2016


MOVIE IS cinematic powerful emotional conventional
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80 %
93 % Certified Fresh
$ 64 Million
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See Where to Watch Fences
Positive Reviews 167
Negative reviews 5
Average Rating 4.0/5
cinematic powerful emotional conventional

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  • Positive
  • Negative
3.2
Directing himself in a largely competent film adaptation, Denzel Washington has this role down pat. Av Club
3.5
But how do you raise children to have all of your strengths but none of your weaknesses Indie Wire
3.5
Sweat, tears, sacrifice and all.Washington stars as Troy Maxson, a colored garbage man trying to make a decent living in a world where race relations .. We Got This Covered
4.0
Fences crackles with spitfire dialogue, blazing emotions, and worn down, gut punched humanity. Austin Chronicle
4.5
When hes not scowling, hes flashing those pearly whites in a sharklike smile thats more grimace than grin. Austin Chronicle
4.0
Its muscular, solid, sturdy all those things you expect from classic mid to late twentieth century American drama. Time Out
3.0
As it stands, you can hear it even if youre in the theater next door seeing Rogue One.Washingtons uniformly excellent cast, however, does better cower .. Time Out
5.0
High anticipation should translate into solid commercial returns. Screen Daily
3.5
However, what truly brings Fences to life are the powerhouse performances from Washington and co star Viola Davis. Collider
4.5
If theres one major obstacle that Washington cant overcome, its the length of the story. Collider
2.5
Its not cinematic enough to make you forget youre watching something conceived for another, more spatially constricted medium, but its too cinematic t .. Vulture
3.7
Yet its also a somewhat pedestrian cinematic achievement.As a showcase for acting, its a marvel. Paste Magazine
5.0
Most importantly, Washington as director knows that the biggest star in this film is its writing. Rogerebert
3.5
Instead of letting the visual versatility that cinema offers help to expand Wilsons story, or offer a more immersive version of the source material, F .. IGN
4.0
Its not easy making a play this hefty fly compellingly on screen. Telegraph
3.5
Fences is an actors showcase above all else, and all of the talent on display is exemplary. The Young Folks
4.0
Its also exactly what sets Fences apart as such an idiosyncratic drama compared to its cinematic peers. Cinema Blend
4.0
Troy used to be somebody, as hell tell you after a couple of gins. Ny Daily News
3.5
But, if youre looking for a more conventional drama, this isnt for you. JoBlo
3.0
Where Fences struggles is to make its story as poetic and stirring in execution in cinematic form as it is on the stage. Screen Rant
3.8
Instead, Davis achieves a remarkable balancing act, a delicate and thoughtfully composed mix of anger and love, passion and suffering. The Globe And Mail
4.4
Played with great compassion by Washington, hes also sexy, fun, and charming.Charismatic to the core, he has a devastating sense of humor and an impre .. Philly
5.0
Now dont you go through life worrying about if someone like you or not.You best be making sure theyre doing right by you. Spirituality And Practice
4.2
But any lack of simple realism hardly matters when the text is as brilliant as Wilsons and the portrait it paints is as vividly and poignantly deliver .. One Guys Opinion
3.8
Washington directs, taking special care of the material and its thematic potency, trying to master a cinematic stance for a story ..read more.. Blu Ray
4.4
Washington cant completely keep Fences from seeming like a play, and the performances are on the large side, but theyre of an extremely high quality, .. Combust Ible Celluloid
3.0
August Wilson wouldnt entrust the movies with his Pulitzer Prize winning play(1983) unless it was given to a black director; hes gotten his wish with .. Chicago Reader
4.4
While not a conventional cinematic experience and more akin to a PBS special, it does create a sense of forced intimacy among its characters that beco .. Usa Today
4.0
Fences is the most classical piece of drama in the best picture line up for this years Oscars, with outstanding performances by Denzel Washington and .. The Times
3.8
Film, with close ups and other devices to guide the viewers attention, allows for subtler performances and quieter nuances. Eric Ds Nider
4.0
Washington hardly rewrites the book on cinema, but the filmmaking is fluid and patient and tasteful in a good way, and the images captured by cinemato .. News Review
3.0
It comes across not so much as dated, rather as period drama, and it remains stagey. Radio Times
4.5
That said and those quibbles aside, if you want to watch some powerhouse performances in a well told film about masculinity and family dynamics from a .. Screen It
4.4
This writer, this director and these actors are all the magnificence required to grab your attention and hold it. Rolling Stone
4.5
The Nature of Imitation is the sound of Dorian Concept systematically deconstructing various genres, stripping them back to the bones underneath and t .. Pop Matters
5.0
Its taken nearly 30 years for August Wilsons Pulitzer Prize winning play Fences to make it to movie screens since its roiling portrait of an embittere .. The Wrap
3.2
The result, as might be expected, is strong on acting and overly stagey. Cs Monitor
5.0
Fences may be a cautionary story about the effects of racism, but it is also a cunning, layered and consistently entertaining drama that asks the view .. Film Journal
2.0
Its like being repeatedly clobbered by Troys prized baseball bat: Rose takes a phone call that delivers bad news; a lightning flash illuminates the cr .. The Guardian
3.0
Fences is a fervent, prolix, stately but beautifully acted drama, its exteriors lovingly photographed in a richly sunlit honeycomb hue. The Guardian
4.0
What was a flawless if inessential piece of works turns into something of terrible force and portent. The Guardian
4.0
Typically this would be a bad thing, but here the performances are so good that its a treat. Az Central
5.0
Washington keeps us entrenched in the claustrophobic house and declines to gussy things up with the cinematic flourishes we might expect. Npr
4.4
Regardless of whether its controlled style and emotionally rich cast introduce this scalding drama of family discord to new audiences or revive it for .. Star Tribune
3.8
As a director, Washington has a deep sense of character, and the best one can say about Fences is that it feels constantly alive. Q Network
4.2
They invite us in to an intimate place thats messy and painful and hard to shake.Its as good as screen acting gets. Ew
5.0
Fences functions as a faithfulsometimes doggedly faithfulrecord of a remarkable ensemble performance of one of the great works of American drama. Slate
4.0
Washington and the gut wrenchingly brilliant Davis won Tonys for their performances on Broadway. Flim List
4.0
It brings us closer to them without the threat of excessive artifice. Film Inquiry
5.0
A simply extraordinary film without crashes, bangs and wallops but full of towering performances delivered with intelligence, power and heart. Empire
4.0
Following Wilsons poetic, still relevant text like a holy spirit, as a director Denzel Washington elicits insightful, intelligent, nuanced performance .. Susang Ranger
5.0
You dont get writing or acting of this caliber every day, and in this particularly dreary year of second rate everything, this movie is something spec .. Observer
4.0
When she finally utters a fateful sentence toward the end of the film, you feel it slice through your heart.Fences will take some discipline and effor .. Common Sense Media
4.0
It is a showcase for acting and highly powerful storytelling, but not much else. Flickering Myth
5.0
Still, Washington delivers not only one of the years best performances, but one of the best self directed performances in cinema history. Sf Gate
1.5
Much of the action takes place in the stagelike setting of the Maxson home and yard; despite the actors precise and passionate performances, Washingto .. New Yorker
3.5
By themselves, make the movie worth seeing, though in the end, it feels too much like a school assignment. Time
3.1
But Washington is a poet of anger, of coiled, self annihilating righteousness. Slant Magazine
5.0
Denzel Washington delivers a leonine, devouringly powerful performance as one of American theaters most imposing patriarchs in Fences, a classic of co .. Washington Post
5.0
Mr. Washington has wisely resisted the temptation to force a lot of unnecessary cinema on the play. The New York Times
3.5
It feels reductive, but also inaccurate to not call Washingtons performance here loud. The Film Stage
4.4
Robust, delicate, sublimely acted and a close cinematic cousin to the theatrical original, director Denzel Washingtons film version of Fences makes up .. Chicago Tribune
4.4
You dont get groundbreaking cinema from Fences, but what you do get two titanic performances and an immeasurable American drama makes up for that. Boston Globe
3.8
At the time of year where the most highly anticipated films are entertainment for the masses, like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it is refreshing to s .. Reeling Reviews
4.0
Other people seem to say it all the time.So here goes: Denzel Washington and Viola Davis are a tour de force. Uproxx
3.0
Thanks heavens for those two key performances.Denzel swells with dangerous charisma. The Irish Times
2.5
What should be an earthy depiction of working class African American life is instead awkward and unconvincing. Las Vegas Weekly
4.4
But the film is brilliantly scripted and powerfully acted and deserves to be seen by all who care about great performances and emotional impact. ReelViews
5.0
Due to Fences star power and innate qualities, this will not be the case for the film, which offers enough dramatic meat, boisterous humor and lived i .. Hollywood Reporter
5.0
Some people welcome faithful adaptations but to me theyre like a gorgeous rose with no smell. Standard
4.0
A premier baseball player who was a major force in the Negro League, Troy was too old to transition to the majors and that continues to rankle him. Los Angeles Times
4.4
Washingtons Fences Adaptation an Absolute Triumph In 2010, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis headlined a Broadway revival of August Wilsons 1985 Pulit .. Movie Freak
3.5
Fences is an effective drama, but it feels rigid, its stage origins handicapping its storytelling. Detroit News
5.0
And Washington tears through it with a joyful ferocity, like a man possessed. Variety
3.5
(CNN) Bringing August Wilsons play to the screen with considerable power if not much imagination, star director producer Denzel Washington turns Fence .. Cnn
3.5
And its ultimate message of forgiveness and acceptance packs a hefty punch. Herald Sun
3.2
It should come as no surprise that the role fits Washington like a glove. Consequence Of Sound
5.0
Both Washington and Davis scale their performances somewhere between stage and screen, and in his role a director, Washington clearly keeps allegiance .. Movie Habit
4.0
Fences feels timeless but also deeply bound to a specific time But theres more to the movie than its actors. Vox
4.0
Given this is based on a stage play, naturally this film is fundamentally about speech, and the dialogue is beautifully crafted and rhythmically deliv .. Hey U Guys
3.8
The one big crooked thing about is that it never quite escapes its stage origins. The Star
2.5
Now, not every film needs to be cinematic and theres myriad examples of powerful films with outstanding performances where the filmmaking is unshowy a .. The Play List
1.3
Washingtons direction is earnest.Its all slow push ins and monumental tableaux. Film Freak Central
2.0
Since Washington also directs, and the academy loves that versatility, dont count out best pic and directing nods. Now Toronto
4.4
The translation from stage to screen impacts the pacing of the film, and viewers used to the style and structure of a normal film might find things dr .. Deseret News
5.0
As hard hitting as a baseball whose game acts as a metaphor for the protagonists life, Fences is a potent drama about survival, family and dreams with .. Urban Cine File
4.3
That said, and despite its handicap in the directorial department, Fences is a truly astonishing piece of film that is absolutely worth your time. Film Ink
4.5
So while Fences is a must see for its astonishing cast and their outstanding performances, its an unexpectedly underwhelming cinematic experience. Ner Dist
3.0
Davis has a stinging line that could be a fierce and fitting close to the story, but unfortunately theres a good 20 minutes tacked on after it. The Age
3.5
Fences preserves the drama, if not quite translating it into film. Maki At The Movies
4.0
Following a string of sub Tony Scott thrillers and the less than magnificent The Magnificent Seven, Denzel Washington returns to acting with a visible .. Cine Vue
5.0
But it also stands as an aching, lyrical, performance driven masterpiece in its own right, a film so intense and engrossing that movie theaters really .. La Weekly
3.8
If Fences occasionally feels cinematically inert, its emotionally resonant thanks to Davis and Washington the actor, not the director as much. Tamp A Bay
3.1
Honorable, worthy and windy, Fences is essentially a PBS episode of Great Performances that is inflated for the big screen without ever quite belongin .. New York Post
4.0
Theres a universality to the Maxsons story that is sure to resonate with audiences everywhere and I found myself moved to tears more than once. Raidió Teilifís Éireann
3.0
Viola Davis steals the show in this faithful stage adaptation from director Denzel Washington.This is a filmed version of a 1983 play by August Wilson .. Lw Lies
3.0
And while a cinematic version of Fences has widened its audience reach, the same cant be said for widening its appeal. Nz Herald
3.5
Nothing screams Oscar season like Denzel Washington and Viola Davis together on the big screen, going head to head in what feels like the Batman vs Su .. Nz Herald
4.0
Such simplicity would drag most films down a notch, but with dialogue this dense and performances this complex, it makes sense to put everything else .. Flicks
3.8
Final verdict A profound and beautifully acted story that needed to adapt a little more to truly become an adaptation. Red Eye Chicago
2.8
Some plays lend themselves to the cinema better than others. Unfortunately, Fences doesnt seem to be one of them. Cleve Land
3.5
Wilsons dialogue is heightened and gorgeous, with a poetic ring like modern day Shakespeare as it explores enormous issues using clever wordplay and e .. Contact Music
4.4
But it should be noted that plays and movies are different languages and for reasons that have more to do with conception than execution, one cannot a .. Ar Kansas Online
4.5
And you can read it all over Washingtons work here.This is a man who understands Troys traits. Film Racket
3.1
There is hardly a moment watching Fences that you forget its an adaptation of a playin this case August Wilsons Pulitzer Prize winner about a cantanke .. Larsen On Film
4.5
But Washington largely succeeds at a feat that has felled many other directors. Vanity Fair
4.0
The encounter is a classic of world cinema, but it isnt much fun. Wsj
3.5
Whether the barriers purpose is to keep people out, or people in, is something you can work out for yourself since the perspective is ever evolving. Patriot Ledger
4.4
1 of 7 View Caption This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Denzel Washington in a scene from Fences. Sltrib
4.2
The performances are exceptional with Denzel Washington at his very best. The Film Pie
4.0
Its the strength of the talented cast that carriesto greatness, and every time Denzel and Viola square off its us who are left breathless in their wak .. Punch Drunk Critics
4.0
Only Davis manages to keep her responses sounding fresh and free of stagecraft. Straight
2.0
Your best bet is to let those mellifluous, multitudinous words bewitch, bother, and beguile you; then maybe you wont notice the stagey presentation, s .. Sandiego Reader
2.5
I hope people see Tony as a cautionary tale but you never know if some A hole is going to see it as sympathetic to all their misdeeds. We Live Entertainment
4.0
It is very much a play on film, frequently acted for the cheap seats, mostly unconcerned with the spatial differences between theater and film. Cinemix Tape
3.8
But its not a film in the conventional sense and that lack ultimately keeps it from being all it could. ComingSoon
4.2
The dramatic conclusion, in which poor Gabriel blows his horn, should bring tears to your eyes, as it did mine.All the poetry of the drama, and even t .. Shockya
4.0
But undoubtedly, the performance of the film, and perhaps the year, belongs to Davis with an explosive, heartbreaking force that tears the screen apar .. Dead Line
4.0
Washingtons sometimes intimidating brand of confidence and charisma has rarely been put to better use as Troy. Metro New York
4.0
Theyre here for the performances, and the screen is hardly big enough to hold them. Sbs
5.0
Based on the Tony winning Broadway play of the same name, Fences is just as powerful on the big screen.Directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay .. Solzy At The Movies
5.0
Washingtons direction cant match his acting Fences is great filmed theater but not exactly great cinema. Flavor Wire
4.4
Its a performance that deserves all the accolades that will befall it. Awards Circuit
3.8
Alas, on the big screen, the narrative loses some of its relentless pace and drive. Mercury News
4.4
It feels more cinematic once the emotional stakes kick into high gear. Post Gazette
3.0
MORE: Justin Timberlake is going to sneak alcohol into the Oscars and we want to sit next to him MORE: The Lego Batman Movie is an essential and hilar .. Metro
2.5
This is the unique element cinema offers storytellersthe visual component. Lainey Gossip
4.2
Its challenging for a film to capture the dynamic in your face sweat and immediacy of a play. Guide Live
4.0
Wilson and Washington respond to this challenge with one of the most powerful performances of the latters lengthy film acting career. East Bay Express
2.5
The best part of Fences is the acting by Washington and Davis.They give powerhouse performances. Tony Mack
5.0
I would recommend families to celebrate this MLK holiday and watch Fences, and if you miss it this Monday, see it on Tuesday.A beautiful masterpiece i .. Black Girl Nerds
3.5
But that doesnt take away from the fact that Pratt doesnt bring much to this flawed lunk of a guy, while Lawrence effortlessly elicits our empathy. New Republic
3.8
Thats either great writing or poor social progress.The filmed adaptation also feels very much like a play. National Post
5.0
, both prior Tony winners and now nominated for Golden Globes, will be remembered as two of 2016s very best. People
3.0
The frame becomes a coffin, killing tension and narrative momentum. The National
5.0
It feels dialogue heavy because Washington doesnt command the cinematic rhythm of movement and imagery that makes the best film adaptations of plays ( .. National Review
4.0
There is a powerful drama here about the legacy of racism but Washington doesnt know how to liberate it from the stage. New States Man
5.0
Both Hornsby and Williamson give strong, well defined performances. Media Mikes
5.0
Serious or not, many films are merely entertainments and are easily forgotten, even if they succeed. But a serious film such as Fences is a privilege .. Toronto Sun
4.4
Washington doesnt do much to break free cinematically, although the production does create a real connection between the audience and characters. Columbus Alive
4.8
Washingtons masterful performance is the embodiment of that circumstance, weighed down by anger and loss. Reel Talk Online
5.0
Both Davis and Washington honor these characters by thoroughly inhabiting their emotional flesh. Sf Weekly
5.0
Powerhouse performances from Washington and (hopefully Academy Award winner) Viola Davis make this an honest and heartwrenching adaptation of an Ameri .. Culture
3.8
The stripped down approach effectively emphasizes the performances Washington is compelling if occasionally one note as he shakes with anger while Dav .. Am Ny
4.5
In a time when audiences fork over their hard earned cash to sit and stare agog at mind numbingly gratuitous special effects with the odd moment of re .. Film Ireland
4.5
As handsome as it is, this is a filmed playcomplete with five stars who completed over 100 performances in the Tony Award winning Broadway productiona .. Stream On Demand At Home
3.5
Troy and Bonos banter lacks that lived in feel; these are shared experiences ticked off as anecdotes and observations for plot purposes and not believ .. Toledo Blade
5.0
But its thoroughly adapted from its Broadway source material.Its not a bludgeoning, oversized performance. Metro Active
3.0
And watching him spout dialogue even if he is played by Denzel becomes something of a chore, and one that lasts for over two hours, meaning that you m .. Adelaide Review
3.5
Containing the setting to the yard and the street scenes is perfectly suitable and fresh.However, the disjunction between film and theatre becomes app .. Impulse Gamer
2.5
You cant discount the achievements of Denzel Washingtons new film adaptation of the 1987 Pulitzer Prizewinning play, Fences. World Wng
5.0
If any entertainment is present in Beauty, its watching pros like Winslet, Mirren, Norton and Knightley struggle to lend this turkey credibility. Illinois Times
5.0
The weakness of Denzels migration of the play to film is that it feels like exactly that. Kdhx
3.0
David Lee/Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Among its many blessings, the great miracle of Fences the family drama based on August Wilsons 1985 Pulitzer .. Aarp
5.0
It is so refreshing to have a film where the dialogue is rich and full bodied. Kpbs
4.5
Denzel Washington, well, swings for the fences. And while he doesnt quite hit a home run, he does manage a solid triple. And, almost as importantly, h .. Saportare Port
5.0
Denzel Washington and Viola Davis create a mesmerizing symphony of emotion, finding both love and tragedy in every look and line of this poetic adapta .. Seattle Times
3.5
But any stilted staginess is offset by its commanding performancesespecially by Washington. Parade
5.0
Washington is telling us that Fences is classic American theater so it should jolly well bid fair to be classic American filmmaking too.Its not all of .. Buffalo News
5.0
August Wilson is Americas most produced playwright this year, but his audience remains largely limited to theater goers.Meanwhile, popular culture is .. Pgh City Paper
5.0
Luckily for us its star Denzel Washington has reassembled the key players for this production. Leonard Mal
3.2
Dont let the likely tears keep you away though.Everyone needs a good cry every once in a while. Sa Current
4.4
The film is the next best thing to seeing a stage production of this 20th century classic. Its power, compassion and intimacy crashes through the scre .. Reel Bob
4.4
The bare bones aesthetic means the film functions as a showcase for its cast, with Washington and Davis outsizing their environs with vivid grandiosit .. M Live
3.0
If anyone in Hollywood has earned the latitude to indulge in a passion project like Fences, its Denzel Washington. All Movie
4.0
But capturing this set of performances is absolutely enough to justify the fact that this is the version weve got. Reviews Antagony Ecstasy
4.0
This is an old fashioned acting showcase, and not just for the two leads, though theyre both mesmerizing. Bk Mag
4.0
Epic doesnt even begin to describe this mind exploding spectacle. Movie Reviews Cinemaclips
5.0
If youve seen Fences in any capacity, not much will surprise you about this film.However, the stunning acting and August Wilsons timeless words will c .. Shadow And Act
4.0
Grand enough in its story telling to warrant its place on the big screen, but not so flashy and cinematic that it completely abandons its source mater .. Ib Times
4.4
Fences Trailer An African American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming .. Charlotte Observer
4.5
Times are changing, but the civil rights movement is still a decade away. Womens Voices For Change
3.8
By Last year, Hollywoods Motion Picture Academy took a lot of heat for failing to recognize one single person of color among its 20 acting Oscar nomin .. Good Times
5.0
But that power is never more present than when it involves exploring the lives of troubled characters who stalk the stage, often doing as much harm as .. Spokane7
4.0
But Washington never lets any of it feel like a betrayal to its source material. Franks Reel Reviews
4.0
Ive never considered Denzel Washington an actor so much as a star. Signature Reads
4.5
Fences is a family melodrama thats well executed from start to finish. Black Filim
5.0
The wait was worth it.I love theater and I love film equally, but they really are two different experiences for an audience. Malibu Times
4.4
FENCES presents, however, it remains a film about hope.That may be Washingtons greatest accomplishment in bringing it to the screen allowing hope to r .. Cleve Land Movie Blog



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