{"id":758,"date":"2017-01-03T08:41:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-03T15:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2017\/01\/03\/fences-%e2%80%93-lives-up-to-its-award-winning-status\/"},"modified":"2017-01-03T08:41:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T15:41:00","slug":"fences-%e2%80%93-lives-up-to-its-award-winning-status","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2017\/fences-%e2%80%93-lives-up-to-its-award-winning-status\/","title":{"rendered":"Fences \u2013 Lives Up to its Award-winning Status!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a onfocus=\"this.blur()\" onclick=\"ps_imagemanager_popup(this.href,'Fences_1.jpg','182','268');return false\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Fences_1.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"136\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"200\" align=\"left\" alt=\"Fences_1.jpg\" title=\"Fences_1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-Fences_1.jpg?resize=136%2C200\" \/><\/a><em>Fences <\/em>is the story about an African-American father struggling 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. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, \u201cFences is an outstanding film driven by great performances from Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. This film took me on a roller-coaster of emotions that had me in a heap of tears by its finish.\u201d KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror Juanita Seon Leary adds, \u201cAdapted from the stage play by August Wilson (who also writes the screenplay), it lives up to its award- winning status.\u201d See their full reviews below.<\/p>\n<p>Fences<br \/>\nBy Benjamin P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11<\/p>\n<p><em>Fences<\/em> is an outstanding film driven by great performances from Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. This film took me on a rollercoaster of emotions that had me in a heap of tears by its finish.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uVz5C5etF3g\"><\/p>\n<p><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, <em>Fences<\/em> is set in Pittsburgh in the 1950s and follows Troy (Denzel <a onfocus=\"this.blur()\" onclick=\"ps_imagemanager_popup(this.href,'fences.a.jpg','1499','1000');return false\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/fences.a.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"150\" align=\"right\" alt=\"fences.a.jpg\" title=\"fences.a.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-fences.a.jpg?resize=225%2C150\" \/><\/a>Washington) and his wife Rose (Viola Davis). Troy works on a garbage truck and has failed to accomplish his dreams of becoming a baseball player. He thinks life was stacked up against him and takes it out on his family. His son Corey (Jovan Adepo) dreams of playing football, but Troy is holding him back. A secret that Troy is keeping threatens to ruin his relationship with his family. As the secret and its aftermath are slowly revealed, Fences takes you on an enthralling and emotional family journey.<\/p>\n<p>Denzel Washington is excellent as Troy Maxson, a man reminiscing about his failed baseball career and the cruel injustice he thinks he\u2019s experienced in his life. Washington\u2019s performance manages to make this character likable, but paints his character\u2019s inner demons very well, too. Viola Davis\u2019s performance is great. She adds so much aching, raw emotion to her performance. No other actors could have played these roles this <a onfocus=\"this.blur()\" onclick=\"ps_imagemanager_popup(this.href,'fences.b.jpg','1498','1000');return false\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/fences.b.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"149\" align=\"right\" title=\"fences.b.jpg\" alt=\"fences.b.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-fences.b.jpg?resize=224%2C149\" \/><\/a>well. They starred in these roles on Broadway in 2010 in a revival of this play and I am convinced this helped build the bond they show as husband and wife in the film.<\/p>\n<p>My favorite character is Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson), Troy\u2019s brother and a veteran with a challenging injury. He\u2019s a very bright and almost magical character who lights up the screen every time he\u2019s on it. He helps balance the tense dramatic scenes in this film.<\/p>\n<p>Denzel Washington also directs <em>Fences.<\/em> The way he shoots this film really resonates with me as an audience member. He brings the viewer in close to the characters during tense moments and draws you into the emotional core of the scene. One thing that I don\u2019t like about how the film is constructed is that sometimes the transitions between scenes are sudden and occasionally confusing. It makes the pacing somewhat inconsistent. But overall, this film is extremely powerful and I definitely recommend bringing tissues.<a onfocus=\"this.blur()\" onclick=\"ps_imagemanager_popup(this.href,'fences.c.jpg','1777','998');return false\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/fences.c.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"227\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"127\" align=\"right\" alt=\"fences.c.jpg\" title=\"fences.c.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-fences.c.jpg?resize=227%2C127\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I recommend this film for ages 12 to 18 because some adult themes could be difficult for children to process as well as the racially charged and vulgar language. I give <em>Fences <\/em>5 out of 5 stars for its superb acting, captivating characters and drama. This film is in theaters now so be sure to check it out.<\/p>\n<p>Fences<br \/>\nBy Juanita Seon Leary, KIDS FIRST! Adult Juror<\/p>\n<p>I saw <em>Fences <\/em>as a play with James Earl Jones years ago and was very anxious and looking forward to seeing the filmed version. <a onfocus=\"this.blur()\" onclick=\"ps_imagemanager_popup(this.href,'fences.d.jpg','1498','1000');return false\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/fences.d.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"150\" align=\"right\" title=\"fences.d.jpg\" alt=\"fences.d.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-fences.d.jpg?resize=226%2C150\" \/><\/a>Adapted from the stage play by August Wilson (who also writes the screenplay), it lives up to its award- winning status. I am a fan of both Denzel Washington and Viola Davis who star in this film.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the film, we see life through the eyes of Troy (Denzel Washington) an African American man struggling with issues of race and economics and all the events of his life.\u00a0 He lives with his family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1950s.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fences <\/em>opens with Troy and Bono (Steven Henderson) riding on the garbage truck. As they work, they talk about the inequality of their jobs.\u00a0 Troy questions why \u201ca black man cannot drive the truck\u201d? He asks the question to his supervisor who is a white man and is facing possible firing. so it is thought. Troy and Bono arrive at Troy\u2019s house and we begin to learn about a fence.\u00a0 It is Friday and payday. <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Juanita.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" vspace=\"5\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"5\" height=\"266\" align=\"right\" alt=\"Juanita.jpg\" title=\"Juanita.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbs\/th-Juanita.jpg?resize=200%2C266\" \/><\/a>We see Troy and Bono sharing a bottle of liquor.\u00a0 Troy tells stories and his wife Rose (Viola Davis) sits on porch and interacts to keep Troy honest. We learn about Troy\u2019s past, his excellent skills in baseball, time he served in jail and how he met Rose.<\/p>\n<p>The film has excellent scenes that let us feel and see the streets of Pittsburgh. The main center of action is the backyard. There is a baseball on a string and Troy\u2019s baseball bat.\u00a0 Rose asks Troy to build her a fence. At one point, Bono speaks to Troy about fences.\u00a0 \u201cFences are built to keep something or someone out or to keep something or someone in.\u201d He lets Troy know that Rose wants to keep him and their son Cory (Jovan Adepo) inside.\u00a0 In Fences, we see the relationship and interaction of a father with his sons. His older son, Lyons (Russell Hornsby) comes by on paydays to ask for a loan and his younger son Cory wants to play football to attend college.<\/p>\n<p><em>Fences <\/em>is excellent and has many lessons and messages. Because of the language and suggestive references, I recommend it for ages 14 to 18 and believe that many adults will enjoy it also. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.\u00a0 It opens on December 25, 2016 so be sure to check it out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fences is the story about an African-American father struggling 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. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Benjamin P. comments, \u201cFences is an outstanding film driven by great performances from Denzel Washington and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film-reviews"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-ce","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=758"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}