Nov 22, 2016 fences is as faithful, impeccably acted and honestly felt a film adaptation of august wilsons celebrated play as the late author could have possibly wished for. Jan 05, 2017 what fences misses about adapting plays for the screen. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. August wilsons written introduction to the first scene informs us that the play takes place in 1957, and that troy is fiftythree years old. Go to the oedipus plot sheet to see an example of a brilliantlyconstructed plot which is the play aristotle based his ideas on. Fences is a film about how our environment shapes us, and how, no matter. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. What is most remarkable about this film is how thoroughly. In fact, one of the reasons i purchased this film was because of the major characters, the supporting cast. Denzel and viola are reprising their roles from the 2010 broadway. Reviewed by damien straker on the 18th of february 2017 paramount pictures presents a film by denzel washington produced by todd black, scott rudin and denzel washington screenplay by august wilson, based on fences by august wilson starring denzel washington, viola davis, stephen henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and. With danny glover, whoopi goldberg, zachary simmons glover, monique. Fences story, fences hollywood movie story, plot, synopsis. Fences is as faithful, impeccably acted and honestly felt a film adaptation of august wilsons celebrated play as the late author could have possibly wished for.
Set in the 1970s, tom spader is an attorney who is determined to end what he has dubbed the colored mans losing streak. Yet the languageas stark and as brutal as it can be at timesis filled with a vibrant, pulsing poetry. As the film was recently nominated for academy awards for best picture, best actor, best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay, it appears washingtons efforts have paid offbut does that necessarily mean fences is a good film. Plot is different from the story the story is what happens. He wants to be a good man but often falls pridefully short. The fencer is largely a quiet and understated movie. Fences is a poignant commentary on the meaning of life, for. 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.
As they talk, we learn that troy has confronted their boss, mr. The friends, both trash collectors, discuss their boss, rand. This is a richly written ensemble pieces that heavily relies on powerful performances. Comparison of walter in a raisin in the sun and august wilsons fences. It is about the stresses of prejudice on an upwardly mobile black family in 1970s greenwich, connecticut. The play fences is about troy maxson, a middleaged black man, and his struggles. Denzel washington and viola davis in fences denzel washington directs and stars in a towering screen version of august wilsons play about a flawed innercity patriarch. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading good fences. Sep 03, 2017 the big short 6 jared vennetts pitch to front point partners jenga blocks scene duration. Denzel washington directed and stars in this adaptation of august wilsons pulitzer prizewinning play, which centers on a black garbage collector named troy maxson in 1950s pittsburgh. Overview of good fences, 2003, directed by ernest dickerson, with paul essiembre, donovan palma, munro chambers, at turner classic movies. A story is a full account of an event or series of events, usually in chronological order.
Jan 29, 2003 a muddled madeforcable pic that won the lottery and wound up at 2003 sundance film festival, good fences set to premiere feb. Fences looks like a simple title, but by the time you get to the end to the play, you just might see that it has lots of meanings. When his winning of a highprofile case thrusts him into the. The first act of the play is a swirling portrait of troy maxsons life. A very good example of how a past trauma can haunt a person for decades, and fear of it reoccurring can drive a person obsessively for. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Fences is a 1985 play by american playwright august wilson. What fences misses about adapting plays for the screen. Bono explains to troy and cory that rose wants the fence because she loves her family and wants to keep close to her love. I was disappointed with the plot development, and the. Divided into two acts, fences begins on a friday nightpayday for bono and troy when the two friends engage in a weekly ritual of drink and conversation. Bono tells troy that he thinks he should realize just how good and loving of a woman rose is to him. Denzel washington stars in and directs a beautifully acted film version of august wilsons broadway play fences. Wilsons common theme of legacy fuels fences in the guise of troys.
A scorched earth novel kindle edition by craven iii, boyd, light, katy. Aristotle, in the poetics, said that plot is the soul of tragedy. On the surface, it seems pretty obvious where the plays title comes from troy and cory spend a lot of time building a fence. Good fences in good fences, a man named tom danny glover starts as a struggling attorney in 1973 who eventually lands a break in a big case that moves his family out of middle class, and into a white upper class neighborhood. Get all the key plot points of august wilsons fences on one page. The pursuit of a dream in a raisin in the sun, the achievement of desire and fences. And even though its dialogue can be harsh and its protagonist can be a monster, fences has some important things to say. The good news is that the play is as powerful now as it ever was. Fences opens in 1957 with 53yearold troy maxson and old friend jim bono drinking on troys porcha friday night ritual. A sequelremake, titled phenomenon ii, was developed for television as part of the wonderful world of disney series 19952005. Troy is telling a story about a black mantroy actually refers to him as a niggerwho, when he was carrying a watermelon beneath his shirt, was questioned about the watermelon by a white man, mr.
An ambitious black attorney takes a case that noone else at his firm will touch and is victorious in court, leading to a swift promotion and a housemove to the allwhite suburbs with his family. This movie has a very hard time following andor staying to a plot. Fences is a poignant commentary on the meaning of life. The film was released in season 45, episode 3 and aired november 1, 2003. Over the course of the play, we see the fence gradually reach completion. Good fences 2002 a black attorney danny glover, his wife whoopi goldberg and their two children move to a posh neighborhood in greenwich, conn. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of fences and what it means. This is a story of an upwardly mobile yet dysfunctional black family who find themselves standing at the lily white gates of the american dream. And perhaps thats why wilson never made much of an effort to put his plays on film.
Troy and bono go to troys house for their weekly ritual of drinking and talking. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of fences. Endel, played by mart avandi, has a lean and haunted look from the start. Irritated by the fact that bono feels the need to tell him this, troy asks why bono feels motivated. At his job interview, the school principal and eventual bad guy, hendrik toompere, notes that endel, whos to be the new phys ed instructor at a secondary school in haapsalu, has listed fencing as among his skills, and comments not a sport for the. Like all of the pittsburgh plays, fences explores the evolving african american experience and examines race relations, among other themes. You dont have to fix what aint broken film inquiry. Examine the argument that good fences make good neighbours. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of fences by august wilson. Trey ellis wrote the script based on a novel by his exwife, erika ellis.
Fences is a film about how our environment shapes us, and how, no matter how noble their intentions, our parents cant help but mess us up in. Plot summary resolution falling action troy goes to the hospital to see alberta give birth but she died while in labor. Good fences, starring whoopi goldberg, danny glover, ryan michelle bathe ashley archer and monique, is a madefortv movie that debuted in 2003. 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.
Act one is comprised of four scenes and act two has five. Dec 23, 2016 fences is a film about how our environment shapes us, and how, no matter how noble their intentions, our parents cant help but mess us up in some fashion, just as their parents had done for them. I was disappointed with the plot development, and the lack of cohesiveness from. Good fences was directed by former cinematographer ernest dickerson and produced in part by his frequent collaborator spike lee. Theres his best friend, bono, whom he met while in prison. Both are very good listeners, and theres nothing troy enjoys more than a. Rand, about the fact that only whites are assigned to drive the trucks at their garbage collection company, while black employees are hired exclusively to carry the garbage. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. Good fences reunites goldberg and glover for the first time since their now classic pairing in steven spielberg s the color purple in 1985. In the play fences, the exposition explains that troy maxson is a.
Good fences is about an upwardly mobile black family for whom the american dream becomes a nightmare. Now the two work together as garbage collectors and sip gin every friday night. The tv movie was directed by ken olin and written by gerald di pego. Having a conversation, he and bono enter the yard outside troys house. Good fences is a movie about knowing ones place, and finding out what is right.
Wilson writes that, of the two friends, bono is the follower, and that his dedication to their over thirtyyear friendship is based on his respect for troys honesty. Sam kitt, spike lee, whoopi goldberg, erika ellis, trey ellis. The play won the 1987 pulitzer prize for drama and the 1987 tony award for best play. Denzel washingtons film fences, an adaptation of the play by august wilson, could well have yielded an. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in wilsons tenpart pittsburgh cycle. In addition to washington, the film also stars viola davis, stephen mckinley henderson, jovan adepo, russell hornsby, mykelti williamson and saniyya sidney. Troy admits to bono that he is having an affair with alberta. A muddled madeforcable pic that won the lottery and wound up at 2003 sundance film festival, good fences set to premiere feb. The big short 6 jared vennetts pitch to front point partners jenga blocks scene duration. A black familys move into a privileged world of white 1970s. Gaberial got taken to the asylum because troy couldnt read and sign the papers. That week troy asked his boss why white men do the driving while the black men do the lifting.
149 75 858 1412 593 549 1038 396 1119 1057 854 455 1428 613 428 523 1520 1447 1545 1590 579 417 1533 759 21 615 1184 834 1126 899 407 1115 1096 586 1293 794 691