Fences movie august wilson

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. In fact, fences is based on a play by the same name from renowned playwright august wilson. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. In addition to washington, the film also stars viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and saniyya sidney. So heading in to see the new big screen adaptation of august wilson s play fences, i expected to have a similar experience. But while listening to the notoriously bitter character troy maxson. Like all of the pittsburgh plays, fences explores the evolving african american experience and examines race relations, among other themes. On one hand, the film is a masterwork, a labor of love adapted from the late, great august wilson s awardwinning 1983 play. Fences is a movie with a somewhat contradictory dichotomy at its core.

August wilson makes notable use of metaphor in fences. 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. What fences misses about adapting plays for the screen the. Denzel washington and spike lee did uncredited treatments on august wilson s original screenplay in preproduction. The film version of august wilson s fences is flawed but presents a more authentic narrative than black lives matter does. Having now completed a decade by decade cycle of seven plays that illustrate the. 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.

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. Denzel requested to go uncredited to honor wilson, and to ensure wilson would be the only writer to receive any recognition and awards. Viola davis starred in a broadway revival of august wilsons fences. Fences movie themes, august wilson play still relevant. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in wilson s tenpart pittsburgh cycle. The most notable metaphor comes from the plays title itself.

Fences is a 1985 play by american playwright august wilson. Denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an excellent movie rather than a turgid. Washington directs and stars in this intelligent and brilliantly cast adaptation of august wilsons play about a garbage collector who was once a. 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. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of fences and what it means. In the screen adaption of the august wilson play fences, denzel washington is a former negro leagues ballplayer. 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. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of fences.

Fences is part of august wilson s pittsburg cycle, a collection of ten plays. Wilson s fences first debuted in 1987, and promptly won. Fences is a conservative movie which is unfortunate. 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. Fences is a poignant commentary on the meaning of life. 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.

Washington also did even more numerous rewrites on set. Denzel washington and viola davis on adapting fences npr. The long, long road to building fences the new york times. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. I cant help wondering how it would look if they decided to make an actual movie based on august. What fences misses about adapting plays for the screen. 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. Viola davis at an event for fences 2016 denzel washington and viola davis in fences 2016. August wilson screenplay by, august wilson based upon his play fences. Step foot inside this haunted forest and you might not. This moving drama was written in 1983 and earned wilson his first pulitzer prize. 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.