Fences movie august wilson

On one hand, the film is a masterwork, a labor of love adapted from the late, great august wilson s awardwinning 1983 play. I cant help wondering how it would look if they decided to make an actual movie based on august. In fact, fences is based on a play by the same name from renowned playwright august wilson. So heading in to see the new big screen adaptation of august wilson s play fences, i expected to have a similar experience. What fences misses about adapting plays for the screen. Fences doesnt take the opportunity to do anything cinematic with august wilson s classic source material, however, it does boast careerbest performances by viola davis and denzel washington. Denzel washington and viola davis on adapting fences npr. Wilson is a major writer, combining a poets ear for vernacular with a robust sense of humor, a sure sense for crackling dramatic incident, and a. The strongest, most passionate american dramatic writing since tennessee williams. The action of the play revolves around a fence that troy and his son corey are. A great american play becomes a great american film with fences, denzel washingtons letterfaithful adaptation of august wilsons pulitzer prize winning masterpiece.

The play won the 1987 pulitzer prize for drama and the 1987 tony award for best play. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in wilson s tenpart pittsburgh cycle. Denzel washington and spike lee did uncredited treatments on august wilson s original screenplay in preproduction. August wilson makes notable use of metaphor in fences. The long, long road to building fences the playwright august wilson, shown in 2003, sought a black director to make a film version of fences. August wilson once dropped out of school, disillusioned after having been unjustly accused of plagiarism by a racist instructor who could not fathom the artistic and intellectual genius of a then young black male writer. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of fences. Washington directs and stars in this intelligent and brilliantly cast adaptation of august wilsons play about a garbage collector who was once a. Denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an excellent movie rather than a turgid one, and consistently inspired performances rather. Denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an excellent movie rather than a turgid. The most notable metaphor comes from the plays title itself. More than a decade after wilsons death, vindication has arrived with the release of a fences film starring denzel washington and viola davis. Step foot inside this haunted forest and you might not.

Fences is part of august wilson s pittsburg cycle, a collection of ten plays. Set in 1950s pittsburgh, the film adaptation of august wilsons pulitzer prize winning play takes a passionate look at former baseball player troy maxson as he. Having now completed a decade by decade cycle of seven plays that illustrate the. Fences is a 2016 american period drama film starring, produced and directed by denzel washington and written by august wilson, based on his pulitzer prizewinning play of the same name. Arguably august wilson s most renowned work, fences explores the life and relationships of the maxson family.

Denzel washingtons oscardestined drama, fences, based on the tony award and pulitzer prizewinning 1987 play by august wilson, is the story of troy maxson, a 53yearold black man in. Fences is a conservative movie which is unfortunate. Fences is a 1985 play by american playwright august wilson. Fences movie themes, august wilson play still relevant. This moving drama was written in 1983 and earned wilson his first pulitzer prize. The long, long road to building fences the new york times. The film version of august wilson s fences is flawed but presents a more authentic narrative than black lives matter does. Washington also did even more numerous rewrites on set. Denzel washington directs and stars in fences, which features viola davis and jovan adepo and is based on the play of the same name by august wilson. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of fences and what it means. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach.

Denzel requested to go uncredited to honor wilson, and to ensure wilson would be the only writer to receive any recognition and awards. In the screen adaption of the august wilson play fences, denzel washington is a former negro leagues ballplayer. In addition to washington, the film also stars viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and saniyya sidney. What fences misses about adapting plays for the screen the. August wilson screenplay by, august wilson based upon his play fences. Viola davis at an event for fences 2016 denzel washington and viola davis in fences 2016.