"Fences" analysis

The movie "Fences" is powerful and worthy of being nominated, but it's not the greatest movie among the competition to be awarded a prize. Of course, the movie is better than "Moonlight."

The movie was adapted from a play of the same name and directed and starred by Denzel Washington.

The first Act was the most boring due to lack of actions and a lot of monologues; talk about actor's practice to talk so much. The other two acts were again with a lot of conversation but with more actions and unbelievable performance by all actors especially by Viola Davis. (The ensemble was wonderful too; chemistry was evident from the get-go).

The problem of the movie was that it was adapted from a play. So, the movie did feel like a play one could see on a stage. "Fences" reminded me of the movie and a play "Raisin' in the Sun." Therefore, seeing the same exact set  throughout the film was boring; reminiscing about the past was just that and a viewer had fill in the blanks and imagine that past; there was clear delineation between different acts like I just could pause the movie and go for a drink -- this was a bit of throw off as well. In the end, I was truly glad when the movie ended because I felt like Denzel Washington was dragging a cat by its tail. Some scenes and conversations, especially in the first act, should've been shortened.

Denzel Washington's performance was really good. It reminded of the similar character he portrayed in the "Training Day", which was almost the same action by action. Viola Davis was in the world of her own, and I believe she eclipsed Washington's performance and everyone else's for that matter. The rest of actors provided a good support to our main character, as mentioned before.

Last, but not least, the movie showed a piece of a life of African-American community. However, unlike "Moonlight" which was unique to African-American and even Hispanic communities, "Fences" showed its internationalism. Similar themes mentioned in the movie could be related by other in many parts of the world: adultery, reminiscing about the lost past, being jealous of younger generation and stopping the young from going for their dreams, taking advantage of a disable person (it could be family or not), hating a system that stops a person from being more than he could be, and disrespecting and being bored of one's life that is comfortable but in which nothing really happens.

The movie is powerful and could leave you, after watching it, a bit unnerved, hopeful, and maybe make you re-evaluate your own life. If that happens, then I believe "Fences" was a success as a movie and a story. And that is a bigger award than any statue that it might receive during this politically charged award season.

I recommend to watch this movie either by yourself or with others. (Possibly consider having a bottle of wine next to you to get through the boring parts).