Hastings Screens Fences
Denzel Washington directs and stars in this powerful drama about family and identity. The film, based on August Wilson's play, explores the complexities of a working-class African-American family in 1950s Pittsburgh.
Dir: Denzel Washington
Cast: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, Saniyya Sidney, Lesley Boone
139 mins · 2016 · United States of America, Canada · Cert 12A · English
IMDb 7.2/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 92% · Metacritic 79/100 · TMDB 6.9/10 · Trakt 74%
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. 60 wins & 123 nominations total
On Sunday, 22 November 2026, the Electric Palace Hastings in Hastings will host a screening of Fences, a drama film directed by Denzel Washington. The film tells the story of Troy Maxson, a sanitation worker who once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, and his struggles to raise a family in 1950s Pittsburgh.
The film boasts a talented cast, including Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, and has been praised for its powerful performances and thought-provoking themes. Fences has received high scores from various critics and audiences, with an IMDb rating of 7.2/10, a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, and a Metacritic score of 79/100.
The film has won numerous awards, including an Oscar for Viola Davis's supporting role, and has been chosen as one of the top ten films of 2016 by the American Film Institute. Tickets are with the button beside the article.
The story of Fences is a complex exploration of family dynamics, identity, and the struggles of working-class life in 1950s America. The film's themes and characters have been widely praised by critics, who have noted the powerful performances of the cast and the film's thought-provoking dialogue. While some viewers have found the film's pace and dialogue-heavy script to be challenging, others have praised its emotional depth and nuanced characterization.
With its talented cast, powerful themes, and numerous awards, Fences is a film that is not to be missed. The Electric Palace Hastings is the perfect venue to experience this powerful drama, and with tickets available, audiences can look forward to a thought-provoking and emotionally charged cinematic experience.
Stills
What viewers say
flipper07 · 8/10
Why is it when Denzel is in a movie he NEVER disappoints. He is in a league of his own. Viola is quickly becoming the same.
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WiseWTF · 5/10
Good performances aren't holy. They can't mend to a cliché, long, boring story. My vote is only sustained by Viola Davis, who was outstandingly good. Not her fault the rest... simply isn't there.
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jsneor
A great cast, but quite boring and way too wordy (that a word?) sorry to say. Indeed sometimes plays do not work well as movies. I attempted twice to finish and fell asleep both times. Oh well Denzel, you can't win them all.
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laxasaurusrex · 9/10
To be honest I don't agree with some of the other comments, plays are by their structure dialogue heavy, they carry emotion; the actors carry the weight in their reactions, their tone, their performance. This film with no doubt in my mind carries all that to the screen. The performances by Viola and Denzel were perfect, without a doubt carrying forward the stage cast gave the film the depth which could have easily been lost.
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Bradym03 · 6/10
"Some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep people in". 'Fences' is what I call an "actors movie". Great acting all round, good story, and a easy straight forward narrative. Other than that, it falls flat. Denzel directing is bland and the film has a lot of pacing issues, as I felt the runtime. Of course this was based on a stage play and it sure feels like it even watching it. Because every monologue has…
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Lee Brown Barrow · 8/10
Can't quite escape its stage origins, but the film does exude a quiet power. A fine acting showcase too.
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FinFan · 5/10
From the other comments I can see it is a controversial movie. I was about an hour into the it when I decided to stop. I can not remember ever having seen a movie with that much dialogue and so little content. For me it was total overkill. I could not make out any sense in the story and was discouraged by the endless dialogue to continue to find out.
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JeanRausseo
I Didn't find it that good as the critics say, it's too long for that type of story. And I really hated that Troy, he was annoying and speak too much. It's an excellent performance from Washington but I just hated the character. And what makes the movie is actually that, the performances of Davis and Washington, remove that and all you have is a dull movie.
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