Fences

2016
PG-13
2h 19m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

120K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

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A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

120K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,342

393

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 60 wins & 122 nominations total

Photos117

+ 111

Top cast50

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Denzel Washington

Troy Maxson

Viola Davis

Rose Maxson

Stephen McKinley Henderson

Jim Bono

Jovan Adepo

Cory

Russell Hornsby

Lyons

Mykelti Williamson

Gabriel

Saniyya Sidney

Raynell

Christopher Mele

Deputy Commissioner

Lesley Boone

Evangelist Preacher
(as Leslie Boone)

Jason Silvis

Garbage Truck Driver

Toussaint Raphael Abessolo

Troy's Father
(uncredited)

Nana Amoah

Cory
(uncredited)

Rachelle Beinart

Miss Canby - Attendee at Troy's Funeral
(uncredited)

Gregory Bromfield

Courthouse Worker
(uncredited)

Joshua Camerata

Angelo the Italian Server
(uncredited)

Hannibal Chancellor

Watermelon Salesman
(uncredited)

Cara Clark

Student
(uncredited)

Tra'Waan Coles

Towns person
(uncredited)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
"Fences" opened on Broadway in 1987, winning the Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actor (James Earl Jones), and Best Featured Actress (Mary Alice). A revival of "Fences" opened in 2010, winning the Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Play, Best Actor Denzel Washington, and Best Actress (Viola Davis). All five adult actors reprise their roles in this film adaptation, with Washington also directing.

Goofs
A store sign had a phone number shown as 412-nnn-nnnn. In 1956 phone numbers would not have been all-numeric (instead, they would have been something like EXbrook 7-1234), nor would they have had area codes as Direct Distance Dialing was not yet commonly used and most local calls would have been dialed with only the 7-character phone number - hence no need to show an area code.

Quotes
Cory: Hey pa!
Troy: Hmm?
Cory: Can I ask you a question?
[pause]
Cory: How come you ain't never liked me?
Troy: Like you? What law is there sayin' I got to like you?
Cory: None.
Troy: All right then. Don't you eat every day? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't you eat every day?
Cory: Yeah...
Troy: As long as you're in my house you put a "Sir" on the end of it when you talk to me.
Cory: Yes, Sir.
Troy: You eat every day?
Cory: Yes, Sir.
Troy: You got a roof over you head?
Cory: Yes, Sir.
Troy: Got clothes on your back?
Cory: Yes, Sir.
Troy: Why you think that is?
Cory: 'Cause of you?
Troy: [chuckles] Hell, I know it's 'cause of me. But why do you think that is?
Cory: 'Cause you like me?
Troy: Like you? I go outta here every morning, I bust my butt 'cause I like you? You're about the biggest fool I ever saw. A man is supposed to take care of his family. You live in my house, feed your belly with my food, put your behind on my bed because you're my son. It's my duty to take care of you, I owe a responsibility to you, I ain't got to like you! Now, I gave everything I got to give you! I gave you your life! Me and your Mama worked out between us and liking your black ass wasn't part of the bargain! Now don't you go through life worrying about whether somebody like you or not! You best be makin' sure that they're doin' right by you! You understand what I'm sayin'?

Connections
Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies of 2016 Already Getting Oscar Buzz (2016)

Soundtracks
Jesus Be A Fence Around Me
Written by Sam Cooke
Performed by Viola Davis

User reviews457

Review

Featured review

8/10

Brilliant Screenplay, powerful film.

This film is about a man. A man who carries the burden of generations of hardship, who couldn't fulfill his own greatest dreams because of the oppressive context in which he lived and who tries to close himself off from the world with fences. Tragically, in closing himself off he loses site of the changing times, he boxes his loved-ones in, and he creates an oppressive environment that emulates everything he tried to guard against. The timeless question lies within this story (adapted from a Pulitzer winning play) is: can we hate a man like this? Or, when we consider his circumstances and trials, is he a hero to admire?

It's worth seeing and is worthy of praise. If not from the acting (particularly Viola's), from the captivating and poetic screenplay. Every word uttered seems calculated by the mind of a genius.