Film Preview: Fences (2016)

Page Revisions:

(October 2, 2016) Original
(December 4, 2016) New Trailer (#2) / New Poster (#1)

Release Date:

December 25, 2016

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “An African American father struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life.”

Poster Rating: C

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Review: Apart from the washed fences style of the font on the poster, it’s utter simplicity will either engage fans of Viola Davis and Denzel Washington or will turn off viewers because it doesn’t look very interesting or exciting.

Trailer Rating: B+ / A-

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Review: (#1) What a potent monologue Denzel Washington gives here. Adding in various scenes from the rest of the film is a solid decision and finishing with the powerful retort from Viola Davis is terrific. The problem is that we’re listening only to a single monologue. That might appeal to the theater fans in the audience, but might turn off those who are looking for a lot more from Washington.

(#2) The fireworks are queued up in this trailer and it makes the most of the explosiveness of the play. While it doesn’t quite reach perfection, it’s engaging in enough ways to make it compelling.

Oscar Prospects:

This could be one of the key players this year with Denzel Washington being up for Best Director and Best Actor and Viola Davis as Best Actress among other categories, including Best Picture.