Fences 2016

     This film is based on a Broadway play by August Wilson that opened in 1987.  The setting of is Pittsburgh of the 1950’s.  Troy Maxson is a sanitation worker and he is able to advance to being a driver.  He’s married to Rose and they’ve been together for 18 years.  Cory is their teenage son and he’s interested in football.  Troy dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player.  He was thought to be too old when the leagues began accepting African-American athletes.  He’s bitter over what happened to him and he believes the same thing will happen to Cory.  He arranges for a football recruiter to skip a meeting with his Cory.

     I didn’t like the way Troy treated his son.  Cory asks Troy why he doesn’t like him and it seems this is the truth.  He removes Cory’s chance before it ever starts even though Troy has experienced how deeply painful this feels.  Later on, I didn’t like how Troy treated Rose.  I felt sympathy for Troy until he mistreated Cory and Rose.  I thought he did way too much talking too.  After a few minutes, I couldn’t pay attention to what he was saying because of the continuous talking!!  Some of his talking comes from a gin bottle, especially Friday after work!!  3* (This movie was OK)

139 min, Drama directed by Denzel Washington with Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Denzel Washington, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, Saniyya Sidney, Christopher Mele, Lesley Boone, Jason Silvis.

Note:  Imdb 7.3 out of 10, 93% critic 76% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*, Metacritic 79 out of 100 with 48 critics 7.3 out of 10 user reviews, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 469 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Denzel Washington performed this play 114 times at the Cort Theatre in New York City in 2010.