Fences

Fences is the third feature directed by Denzel Washington, and it feels like those two earlier, minor efforts were mere warmups for eventually tackling something as prestigious as August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Washington hardly rewrites the book on cinema, but the filmmaking is fluid and patient and tasteful-in-a-good-way, and the images captured by cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen convey a modern American mythology without resorting to sepia-toned shtick. The acting here is uniformly good … and such generous portions! None of the scenery chewers go home hungry. Washington and co-star Viola Davis starred together in the Tony-winning 2010 revival of the play, so their chemistry is easy and unquestionable. Denzel reaches for the rafters for his performance, but it’s still a treat to watch him in tour-de-force mode. Davis is practically incapable of sounding a false note—she only seems to get more real and honest the closer the script forces her towards cliché. D.B.