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What do you get when you bring together Oscar and Golden Globe
award-winner Whoopi Goldberg (“Ghost”, “Strong Medicine”, “Hollywood
Squares”) and NAACP Award winner and Emmy nominated Danny Glover
(“Lethal Weapon”, “Lonesome Dove”, “Beloved”, and “3a.m.”)? You
get the birth of Showtime’s original picture “Good Fences”.
The film, produced by 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks for Showtime,
is executive produced by Spike Lee and Sam Kitt with Whoopi Goldberg
and Danny Glover serving as producers. Ernest Dickerson, widely
known for “Juice”, “Surviving the Game” and “Our America”, directs.
“Good Fences” is a dramatic yet comical portrayal of an upwardly
mobile African-American family, The Spencer’s, for whom the American
Dream leads to a nightmare. Attorney Tom Spencer, played by Danny
Glover, makes it his mission to give his family the finer things
in life. He assimilates to, what he considers, the true American
way of living and its definition of success. Repulsed by any reminder
of, what some might call, the “stereotypical” image of black culture,
he becomes threatened by lottery winner Ruth Crisp, vividly played
by actor/comedian Mo’Nique, who becomes his next door neighbor and
looks to purchase a second home on the same block. Tom believes
that he and his wife Mabel, played by Whoopi Goldberg, will be blamed
by the town for potentially changing the neighborhood into a “chocolate
suburbia” and feels his career advancements will be in jeopardy.
The authentic revival of the 1970’s polyester suits, plastic earrings,
big hair and furniture is impressive but isn’t enough to keep the
film from being less than average. It is predictable and unfortunately,
does a poor job of trying to keep the viewers interested in what
will happen next. Every half hour, you might chuckle watching the
neighbors of this quaint town interact. The occasional creative
banter barely makes up for the films overall slow pace. This movie
might not be your “Sunday Night Special of the Year” but if your
plans for the evening are cancelled and you find yourself at home,
kick back, grab a drink and tune into Showtime on February 2nd at
8pm. “Good Fences” will be on.
Additional airdates: 2/12/03 at 8 p.m., 2/15/03 at 2:30 p.m., and
2/25/03 at 9 p.m.
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