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.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 60 wins & 122 nominations total
- Evangelist Preacher
- (as Leslie Boone)
- Troy's Father
- (uncredited)
- Cory
- (uncredited)
- Courthouse Worker
- (uncredited)
- Angelo the Italian Server
- (uncredited)
- Watermelon Salesman
- (uncredited)
- Student
- (uncredited)
- Towns person
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- 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.
- GoofsA 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'?
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies of 2016 Already Getting Oscar Buzz (2016)
Scripted by August Wilson, adapted by Wilson's own Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Denzel Washington plays an African-American father struggling with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s. He's still bitter from his doomed baseball career in the past, blames it on the white man, so when his son tries to get into sports, he discourages him, telling him that the white man wouldn't give him a single opportunity out there in the field. Denzel's character's wife, played by Viola Davis, faithfully stands by his side despite the secret that would change their family forever.
Story-wise, it doesn't get more well-thought out than FENCES, it's dialogue-driven, it's performance-driven, this material is every actor's dream come true because it has so many layers and it provides room for you to showcase the best version of your chops. We know Denzel and Viola Davis are phenomenal, but FENCES allows them to venture into places and show us shades that may not have been seen before. And I'm sure it feels liberating for all the actors involved in this film to just dig deep down, tap into those emotions and lay them bare for the world to see, and there's no wrong way of doing it.
The conflicts in FENCES are powerful, like a fist through a wall. Nuances surround the characters so you end up understanding where they're coming from despite being in agreement or disagreement with many of their decisions. To a certain extent, I think Quentin Tarantino and Aaron Sorkin fans would find FENCES appealing since each of the characters has incredibly long lines that run like 100 mph. Marital affair, resentments, built up hatred, forgiving your past, there's no shortage of drama in FENCES, its cup overflows. But again, as I said earlier, I think there's a missed opportunity here, the film just didn't do enough to make itself appear cinematic. Composer Marcelo Zarvos' music is almost non-existent. Forget the backseat, many of film's elements are practically locked up in the trunk.
- Ramascreen
- Dec 21, 2016
- Permalink
- How long is Fences?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $24,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $57,682,904
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $129,462
- Dec 18, 2016
- Gross worldwide
- $64,414,761
- Runtime2 hours 19 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1