Fences (film)

Fences

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Denzel Washington
Produced by
Screenplay by August Wilson
Based on Fences
by August Wilson
Starring
Music by Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematography Charlotte Bruus Christensen
Edited by Hughes Winborne
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
  • December 25, 2016 (2016-12-25) (United States)
Running time
139 minutes[1]
Country
  • United States
  • Canada
Language English
Budget $30 million[2]

Fences is an upcoming drama film directed by Denzel Washington and written by August Wilson, based on his play of the same name. The film stars Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson and Saniyya Sidney.

Principal photography on the film began on April 25, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The film is scheduled to be released on December 25, 2016, by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, a former Negro League player, now working as a waste collector, struggles to provide for his family and come to terms with the events of his life.

Cast

Production

Previous attempts to adapt August Wilson's Fences for the screen have been fruitless, partly due to Wilson's insistence on utilizing an African-American director.[3] In a 2013 interview with Empire, Denzel Washington expressed his intention to star in and direct an adaptation of Fences, reprising his role from the 2010 Broadway revival of the play produced by Scott Rudin.[4]

On January 28, 2016, it was reported that Rudin, Washington and Todd Black would produce a film adaptation of the play, directed by Washington and starring Washington and Viola Davis, reprising their roles from the 2010 revival that garnered both actors Tony Awards.[5] Playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner came aboard to build on a draft written by Wilson before his death in 2005.[6] However, Wilson is the only credited screenwriter for the film.[7]

On April 4, 2016, Mykelti Williamson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Stephen Henderson, and Saniyya Sidney joined the cast, with Williamson, Hornsby, and Henderson also reprising their roles from the 2010 production.[8]

On April 25, 2016, it was reported that Fences had begun filming in Pittsburgh.[9] On June 14, 2016, principal photography was completed.[10] Post-production was completed in mid-November.[11] Charlotte Bruus Christensen was the director of photography,[12] David Gropman was the production designer,[13] Sharen Davis was the costume designer,[14] Hughes Winborne edited the film,[15] Sean Devereaux was the visual effects supervisor,[16] and Marcelo Zarvos composed the film's score.[17]

Release

The film was scheduled for a limited release on December 16, 2016, before opening wide on December 25.[18] It was later scheduled for only a wide release on December 25, 2016.[19][20][21][22]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 83%, based on 12 reviews, with a weighted average score of 7.5/10.[23] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 67 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[24]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Critics' Choice Movie Awards December 11, 2016 Best Picture Fences Pending [25]
Best Director Denzel Washington Pending
Best Actor Pending
Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis Pending
Best Acting Ensemble The cast of Fences Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay August Wilson Pending
Satellite Awards February 19, 2017 Best Film Fences Pending [26]
Best Director Denzel Washington Pending
Best Actor Pending
Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis Pending
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 5, 2016 Best Actor Denzel Washington Pending [27]
Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis Pending
Best Ensemble The cast of Fences Pending
Best Adapted Screenplay August Wilson Pending

References

  1. McCarthy, Todd (November 22, 2016). "'Fences' Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  2. Strowbridge, C.S. "2016 Preview: December". The Numbers. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. Obenson, Tambay A. (August 4, 2014). "When August Wilson Insisted on a Black Director for a Hollywood Adaptation of 'Fences'...". Indiewire. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  4. Goldberg, Matt (February 1, 2013). "Denzel Washington Aiming to Adapt August Wilson's FENCES as Next Directing Project". Collider. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  5. Busch, Anita (January 28, 2016). "Tony Kushner Comes Aboard Denzel Washington's 'Fences' For Paramount". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  6. Obenson, Tambay A. (January 28, 2016). "Kushner Tapped for 'Fences' Screenplay + Fall 2016 Release Eyed for Oscar Consideration". IndieWire. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  7. Davis, Clayton (August 10, 2016). "As per a rep from Paramount Pictures, only August Wilson is the credited screenwriter for "Fences" - no longer Tony Kushner". Twitter. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  8. Busch, Anita; D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 4, 2016). "Mykelti Williamson & Russell Hornsby Reprise Roles For 'Fences' Movie". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  9. "'Fences' filming turns back the clock in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  10. "FILMING HAS WRAPPED ON DENZEL WASHINGTON'S 'FENCES' FILM ADAPTATION; VIOLA DAVIS SHARES SET PICS (OSCAR POTENTIAL?)". shadowandact.com. June 14, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  11. Michael Cieply (September 15, 2016). "Delicious Complications As Denzel Washington & Scott Rudin Reach For The Black Cinema Torch". Deadline. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  12. Bill Desowitz (October 6, 2016). "Why 'The Girl on the Train' and 'Fences' Shot on Film". IndieWire. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  13. "Fences – Bron Studios". Bron Studios. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  14. David S. Cohen (August 9, 2016). "How Sharen Davis Went From Actress to Oscar-Nominated Costume Designer". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  15. Clayton Davis (August 30, 2016). "Oscars: Telluride, 'Silence', Editor for 'Fences', and 'Live By Night' staying 2017?". AwardsCircuit. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  16. Sean Devereaux (September 27, 2016). "FENCES is a true work of art. I am so proud to be a part of it. SaveTheDate, this is the film to see this Christmas!". Twitter. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  17. "Marcelo Zarvos to Score Denzel Washington's 'Fences'". FilmMusicReporter.com. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 18, 2016). "Paramount Dates Denzel Washington's Feature Adaptation Of 'Fences'". Deadline.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  19. Feinberg, Scott (September 2, 2016). "First Look: Denzel Washington's 'Fences' Adaptation Photos Unveiled (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  20. Coggan, Devan (September 6, 2016). "Denzel Washington, Viola Davis head to 1950s Pittsburgh in Fences first look". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  21. "Fences". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  22. "The first look at #Fences, directed by Denzel Washington and starring Denzel and @ViolaDavis. In theatres Dec 25th.". Twitter.com. September 6, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  23. "Fences (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  24. "Fences". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  25. "La La Land Leads with 12 Nominations for the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  26. Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  27. "The 2016 WAFCA Awards Nominations". December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.

External links

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