There's a difference between a powerful performance and a forceful performance. Too often, the performances within Fences swerve between these two notions, creating a striking inconsistency. This is with one exception, that of the restrained, elegant, willful performance of Viola Davis.

There's some up and down in the way the film builds tension, but you have to give it credit for taking chances, sticking to a very simple premise, and delivering some legitimate body horror moments.

Adam Sandler: "I want to make a movie that's racist."

Netflix: "About racism?"

Sandler: "No, just racist."

Netflix: "Ok, sounds great."

It earned the laughs, the tears and the cheers. Above all, Me and Earl and the Dying girl is earnest and quite wonderful. Also, its in-movie obsession with Werner Herzog warmed my heart.