This is a screen adaptation of August Wilson’s play about a strict and restricted black father (played by Denzel Washington, who also directed). He verbally bullies his wife (Viola Davis) and son (Jovan Adepo), while ranting about his authority and significance. While Wilson’s language borders on poetic, the father’s unsympathetic character makes the situations hard to handle. Of course, the performances are superb with Davis’ sensitive portray illuminating the screen. Director Washington has kept every moment of this long encounter compelling (it runs 2:19) with crackling energy and dynamic force. Still, it feels like a cinematic staging of a theatrical presentation with the attendant embellished dialogue, hyper-focused encounters and larger than life emotions.
(3.5 / 5)