From the very opening the film betrays its theatrical roots - wordy, with some long set pieces, the majority of the speeches going to Washington's character. Many of the exchanges are nearer to soliloquies with minimal interruption from the other characters, rather than dialogues or group conversations. (My ears were tiring after just 20 minutes!)
Denzel Washington, a city rubbish collector in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, lives with his wife (Viola Davis - extraordinarily good - she deservedly recently won the Best Actress Oscar) and the younger of his two sons (Jovan Adepo - also particularly fine). Other characters are his elder son (Russell Hornsby) who drops by a couple of times, his mentally 'challenged' brother (Mykleti Williamson - not handicapped in the very severest sense, but clearly evident) - and his working colleague and best buddy (Stephen Henderson).
I have to confess that during the first hour of these two hours twenty minutes I was starting to think that it was all beginning to be a bit of a bore, and that the piece would work better in the theatre for which it was intended. Things then take dramatic turns, first between Washington's character and his wife, then between him and his live-in son, between the two of which there'd always been a simmering tension of mutual resentment. So from those points on the drama gets much more serious.
For me the film worked to a degree - heavy stuff it is but I think I'd rather see it on stage. And yes, I'd still pay good money to see it in such a venue, though I'm not sure that many others would. If this film brings the work to wider public attention then that's all to the good, but speaking personally, despite the playwright's own major contribution in bringing it to the screen, I'm not entirely sure that the final product does the play many favours.................6.5.
I would totally agree with what you have said about the film. It was the only Oscar entry I saw this year. For me Viola Davis was worth the whole movie alone and it was a deservedly earned win for her.
ReplyDeleteHere and cheers to you for a wonderful weekend.
Thanks very much indeed for your wishes, M.M. and I offer no less to you.
DeleteI found the film oddly indigestible to a degree. I think it would work better in the theatre because one goes to that in a different frame of mind, more willing to accept a densely- worded production, with few, if any, scene changes. Here I found it a near-exhausting experience, and it was hardly opened up at all to reflect its cinematic potential, though that itself was limited.
Yes, I can't praise Viola Davis highly enough - nor Jovan Adepo. As for Washington himself, his big speeches and sometimes extravagant gestures made me feel several times that this was his 'vanity project'.
Ray,
ReplyDeleteI don't care for film adaptions of plays but I do like Viola Davis thus I will see this movie. Thanks for the review.
Ron
Like Maddie above, I think it's Viola Davis above all who makes this a film it would be a mistake to miss, Ron. She really makes it.
DeleteI agree that it was Viola's movie. I mean, she can do no wrong in my eyes. I did enjoy the film, but there were moments of drag, even for a film that was so beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteWithout Viola D it would looked very much more like an attempt to film what was essentially a theatrical experience, Bob, with Denzel W more than the others putting on that kind of broad-gestured acting. But Viola brought it all down to a personal level, and seeing how she also knows how to do it convincingly on stage, here her portrayal of the part was much better suited to the cinema.
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