I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, here she goes again raving about how great of an actor Denzel Washington is. How many times must we hear this? Well…you can come on back from that conclusion you jumped to because you’re wrong. I am not going to talk in length about how Denzel Washington is arguably the greatest actor of our time. I have gathered you here today to talk about how great of a director he is. 29 years ago, August Wilson’s ‘Fences,’ made its debut on the Broadway stage. After earning a Pulitzer Prize and showcasing some of the finest talent around Wilson, the late playwright, adapted his own stage production into a screenplay. Denzel Washington showcased not only his superior acting ability, but displayed his directorial savvy. Over the years I have heard whispers of the brilliance of the play, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience of entering this world Wilson created. The incredible cast consists of Denzel Washington as Troy, Viola Davis as Rose, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Jim Bono, Jovan Adepo as Cory, Russell Hornsby as Lyons, Mykelti Williamson as Gabriel, and Saniyya Sidney as Raynell. In an effort to not spoil the film, I won’t give any specifics regarding the plot. Instead, I will simply say that Denzel Washington honored Wilson’s writing by creating that same play/stage feel and allowing the words to remain the main focus. As an audience member you are forced into the intimate space of this family and become a participant as the story develops like that of a Shakespearean play. Each and every actor in this film gave a brilliant performance. I must make mention of Viola Davis and how she commands the screen like none other in her most powerful performance to date. Washington and Davis together onscreen left me with chills. Do yourself a favor and see this film.