Denzel Washington to direct film adaptation of Broadway play 'Fences'

[Atypical]

Great source material. Hope Denzel doesn't mess with the adaptation too much. His last two directing efforts . . . don't give me the greatest confidence, but people can improve over time. Please cast Viola Davis as Rose! Getting the entire Broadway revival cast for this would be wonderful for that matter, especially Stephen McKinley Henderson. Denzel's A-list clout should be able to pull that off. Very exciting news!

[Dr_Dmitri-Yuriev]

If she's cast I can see her losing IF she insists on a lead push for a borderline role again.
Mary Alice won Supporting at the Tonys back in the 80s. And the role while pretty juicy does have a LOT less screentime than the male lead's.

I'm also unsure if AMPAS loves Denzel's directing.

I was informed that the reason Mary Alice was placed into the featured (supporting) category is because back then the Tony's had a rule that if you didn't get top billing/ name above the title then you had to compete in the featured category.

[erikdean]

Last time I looked both Doubt and The Help got the same kind of reviews Antwon Fisher and The great debaters and yet Ms. Davis had no problem getting nods and a very close win for those movies. Denzel is not on been Level as a director but so far both of his films that he directed have been very good and well recieved and very well acted. It's also pretty clear the Amps have love for Denzal so put him in a films with Davis and a loved broadway play is a Win. Davis has nothing to worry about.

Ok, comparing Washington's two previous efforts with Doubt and The Help is pretty ridiculous. If Davis has nothing to worry about then where's her nomination for Won't Back Down? You're putting your own feelings about Fisher and Debaters ahead of reality. All I'm saying is, based on track record, someone else might be a better choice for this than Washington.

[Dr_Dmitri-Yuriev]

Ok, comparing Washington's two previous efforts with Doubt and The Help is pretty ridiculous. If Davis has nothing to worry about then where's her nomination for Won't Back Down? You're putting your own feelings about Fisher and Debaters ahead of reality. All I'm saying is, based on track record, someone else might be a better choice for this than Washington.

The screenplay is written by the guy who wrote the play, so I think it'll do fine. Also, Denzel had the misfortune of both his previous films competing in very strong years and he had unknown actors staring in his films.

[crazyfists3600]

The screenplay is written by the guy who wrote the play, so I think it'll do fine. Also, Denzel had the misfortune of both his previous films competing in very strong years and he had unknown actors staring in his films.

No, that wasn't his misfortune.

[curtis20]

Ok, comparing Washington's two previous efforts with Doubt and The Help is pretty ridiculous. If Davis has nothing to worry about then where's her nomination for Won't Back Down? You're putting your own feelings about Fisher and Debaters ahead of reality. All I'm saying is, based on track record, someone else might be a better choice for this than Washington.

You are right there are better directors and there are also worse. Having a director who last two directorial films got an 79% to 80% critics approval rating is nothing to cry over and not a bad track record to have. Also Fences is more Oscar bait then those two films. As for wont back down Davis was never going to get a nod for a film that was made for the same guy who made Beastly. Also that films was teashed by critics and a major flop. Unlike Wont back down Davis has already proven that she is great in this role in Fences with her Tony nod. Denzel know how to pull out great acting out of his cast as a director. That was made clear with both Derek Luke and Nate Parker. Think what he can do with somebody on Davis level.

[Dr_Dmitri-Yuriev]

You are right there are better directors and there are also worse. Having a director who last two directorial films got an 79% to 80% critics approval rating is nothing to cry over and not a bad track record to have. Also Fences is more Oscar bait then those two films. As for wont back down Davis was never going to get a nod for a film that was made for the same guy who made Beastly. Also that films was teashed by critics and a major flop. Unlike Wont back down Davis has already proven that she is great in this role in Fences with her Tony win. Denzel know how to pull out great acting out of his cast as a director. That was made clear with both Derek Luke and Nate Parker. Think what he can do with somebody on Davis level.

Fixed, Davis actually won the award.

[curtis20]

Fixed, Davis actually won the award.

Thanks did not know she won. In that case if she gets the part then she really don't have anything to worry about.

[BTN]

Viola Davis was also in Antwone Fisher!

[jjj]

If you mean nothing to worry about in terms of winning, Shirley Collins lost for Shirley Valentine. Ellen Burstyn lost for Same Time Next Year. Brid Brennan lost for Dancing at Lughnasa. For example.

[alqumista219]

So this is how Viola is gonna win her Oscar

[Dr_Dmitri-Yuriev]

Oh, she'll get the part...and then lose the Oscar to Glenn Close.

The film will likely get a 2015 release, considering Denzel might start filming The Equalizer this summer and then he'll have to prepare for his next Broadway stint for the spring of 2014. The only way Fences gets a 2014 release is if Denzel drops out of The Equalizer seeing how they still don't have a director for it.

[with_one_voice]

Yassssssssss Viola get that Oscar !!!!!