Fences

Denzel Washington directs a stellar stage-to-screen adaption of August Wilson's "Fences," the third midcentury story in his 10-work cycle, "100 years of the good and bad in American history."

The play premiered on Broadway in 1987, takes place in 1957, and won Viola Davis a well-deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2017. Set, as all the productions, in working-class Pittsburgh, Washington embodies former Negro League ball player Troy Maxson, now a bitter 50-something-year-old garbage man at odds with his supportive wife Rose (complex, layered, heartbreaking Davis), and his athletic son Cory (Jovan Adepo).

Troy's life is a figurative fence of division between his past and present, his desires and loyalties, racial inequities, and hopes and dreams, played out in front of a real fence he slowly builds in his backyard. Wilson adapted his Pulitzer Prize-winning play into a screenplay before he died in 2005.

Blu-ray extras include "Expanding the Audience: From Stage to Screen," where "Fences" Broadway Revival director Kenny Leon (who, in 2010, cast Washington and Davis, who won Tonys for acting and best remount) talks about his experiences with the work, first seeing it with James Earl Jones as the lead, and how he heard "his own people's rhythms." Davis notes Wilson's "great gift of vulnerability and empathy" and that his output is "giving other artists permission to embrace their voices."

The street, house and yard also became characters in the movie, while the people remained lurking in most of the shots. The "August Wilson's Hill District" featurette explores the writer's hometown as the constant in his work. Washington recruited locals to be extras during the shoot, and music doesn't enter until about 40 minutes into the film.

"The Company of 'Fences'" talks about the honor and privilege to reunite the award-winning Broadway cast in the film. Davis appreciates the poetry of Wilson's language, his "study of human pathology, how we relate to ourselves." She wanted to show a healthy marriage first, before the fall. Stephen McKinley Henderson, who plays older work mate Jim Bono (and has performed in most of Wilson's plays), observes the playwright's "blues iambic" rhythmic dialogue, and his "rich heritage of survivors." Washington said he wouldn't have done with movie without having done it on stage first.

"This is too big and important a role to pass; be on the top of your form since it's August Wilson," said Washington in "Building 'Fences': Denzel Washington." Creatives note that this character was already in his blood, that Washington would channel Wilson himself, and that Troy is like King Lear, surrounded by people, holding court, until the storm hits.

Davis, who gets her own segment with "Playing the Part: Rose Maxson," says the smartest choice was to do the play first, and I agree. Deeply knowing the characters, having done them for eight shows a week for a period of time is evident in every aspect of this richly tormented production.

Theater percolates thoughtful character connections, and film captures that ephemera forever.

"Fences"
Blu-ray
$19.99
http://www.fencesmovie.com