Themes: Haunted By the Past, Doctors and Patients, Redemption
Main Cast: Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson, Earl Billings
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
The directorial debut of Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, Antwone Fisher is an autobiographical drama written by the real-life Antwone Fisher. Played by newcomer Derek Luke, Antwone is a volatile young sailor in the Navy, getting into trouble for his constant fighting. When he gets appointed to see naval psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington), he begins to reveal the emotional problems behind his rage. Through an introduction to anger management, Antwone is able to confront some secrets of his past and eventually search out his family for a confrontation. Also starring model-turned-actress Joy Bryant as Antwone's girlfriend, Cheryl, and Salli Richardson as Davenport's wife. Antwone Fisher's memoir, Finding Fish, was released to book stores right before the film's theatrical release. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Review
Based on a true story, with a screenplay written by its protagonist, Denzel Washington's directorial debut, Antwone Fisher is a competent tearjerker and self-composed hagiography that's sure to be overpraised for its subtle near-avoidance of racial issues. Talented neophyte Derek Luke stars in the title role, and he's supported by a strong, attractive cast, including director Washington, stolid as he's ever been, as the shrink who helps Fisher come to terms with his past, and the luminous Joy Bryant as the angel of a woman who improbably throws herself at Fisher's feet. Her apparent beatitude is part of the problem with the film. We see the horrific, if overly familiar, privations of Fisher's early life in flashback, but in later life, as the film begins, things seem to fall a bit too quickly and conveniently into place for the young man as he seeks out and battles his demons. The film also risks misinterpretation by accepting the societal racism responsible for many of Fisher's woes as a given. The film doesn't address race directly as an issue in Antwone's life. Of course, more thoughtful viewers will understand that Antwone's oppressors (who are all black) are themselves the products of an internalized racism, but less-thoughtful white viewers may appreciate feeling like they've been let off the hook in this instance because there are no racist, or even unpleasant, white people depicted in the film. Whether or not it's screenwriter Fisher's and/or director Washington's responsibility to explicate the sociopathology of its black oppressors is an interesting question. The fact remains that the film, with its postcard vistas and overblown score, works as drama on only the most rudimentary level. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Kevin Connolly - Slim; Viola Davis - Eva; Rainoldo Gooding - Grayson; Novella Nelson - Mrs. Tate; Yolonda Ross - Elaine Pack; Kente Scott - Kansas City; Stephen Snedden - Berkley; Bob Banks - Horace; Lynne Charles - Spinoza's Wife; O.L. Duke - Uncle Duke; Ellis Williams - Reverend Tate; Michelle Davison - Johnny Mae; Charlie Robinson - Howard; Jascha Washington - Jesse Age 8; Kang Sung - Receptionist; Leonard Earl Howze - Pork Chop; Andreas Patton - Kenny; De'Angelo Wilson - Jesse Age 19; Linda Cevallos - Sexy Woman; Eddie Baccus - Blind Piano Player; Brandon Biggins - Eddie; Jason Dixon - Jason; Fran Dorsey - Owner; Na'tasha Marie Evans - Young Girl #2; Margaret Ford-Taylor - Eda; David Fowler - Chief Master-At-Arms; Angela Gillespie-Winborn - Woman In White; Lissy Gulick - Mona; Cory Hodges - Antwone Fisher Age 14; Teresa Hoefke - Case Worker; Doug Jewell - Spinoza; Kim Johnson - Disc Jockey; Vernée Watson Johnson - Annette; Malcolm David Kelley - Antwone Fisher Age 7; Sean'e La'dae - Edward; Brandon Lewis - Ray; Jada S. Louie - Jeannette; Mary Bradley Marable - Older Lady; Rebecca Morris - Anna; Leo Nepomuceno - SP #1; Rita Pearson - Cashier; John Pittman Jr. - Another Clerk; Timothy Reddick - Dwight Age 8; Edward C. Reynolds III - Man; Janaya Reynolds - Young Girl #1; Ruth Stehle - Snide Clerk; Cordell Stokes - Keith Age 5
Credit
David S. Lazan - Art Director, Gina White - Associate Producer, Marvin E. Lewis - Boom Operator, Robi Reed-Humes - Casting, Lillian Pyles - Casting, Steven Kutcher - Consultant/advisor, Laura J. DeRosa - Coordinator, Nicolas Dodd - Conductor, Chris Smith - Co-producer, Antwone Quenton Fisher - Co-producer, Sharen Davis - Costume Designer, Frank Rose - Costume Designer, Riki Sabusawa-Roach - Costume Designer, Randy Fletcher - First Assistant Director, Denzel Washington - Director, Conrad Buff - Editor, Nancy Paloian-Breznikar - Executive Producer, Larry Cherry - Hair Styles, Tanya Johnson - Hair Styles, Deborah Lily - Hair Styles, Molly Allen - Location Manager, Mychael Danna - Composer (Music Score), Carl Fullerton - Makeup, Amrita-Diane Ford - Makeup, Kathy Madison - Makeup, Nadia Zogby - Makeup, Neal Norton - Camera Operator, Pamela Rittelmeyer - Camera Operator, Nelson Coates - Production Designer, Philippe Rousselot - Cinematographer, Melissa "Stanley" Cohen - Production Manager, Denzel Washington - Producer, Todd Black - Producer, Randa Haines - Producer, Anne McCulley - Set Designer, Paul Sonski - Set Designer, Barbara Mesney - Set Designer, Marvin Felton - Special Effects, David Poole - Special Effects, Willie D. Burton - Sound Mixer, Brad Haehnel - Sound Mixer, Brad Haehnel - Sound/Sound Designer, Matt Patterson - Sound Recordist, John Rodd - Sound Recordist, Robert Powell - Stunts, Gail Monian - Stunts, Dain C. Turner - Stunts, Tom Waite - Stunts, Keith Butler - Stunts, Tierre Turner - Stunts Coordinator, Paul Hammer - Technical Advisor, Leigh Shanta - Unit Production Manager, Antwone Quenton Fisher - Screenwriter, Ronald Clarke - Production Assistant, Joan Andrews - Production Assistant, Kim Andrews - Production Assistant, Carolyn Bishop - Production Assistant, Adrienne Brown - Production Assistant, Matt Cahill - Production Assistant, Kenneth Clemmons - Production Assistant, Traci Easley-Williams - Production Assistant, Marquis Frost - Production Assistant, Cyrillynn P. Grospe - Production Assistant, Lashawn McCrary - Production Assistant, Keith Sam - Production Assistant, William Moore - Production Assistant, Cid Swank - Unit Publicist, Warren Paeff - Additional Editing, Tony Nagy - First Assistant Camera, Xiomara Comrie - First Assistant Camera, Jack English - Gaffer, Russ Faust - Grip, Billy Beaird - Grip, Joe Cassano - Grip, Greg Flores - Grip, Rick Linkowski - Grip, Joseph "Jo Jo" Presson - Grip, Joel A. Ruiz - Grip, Cameron Thorburn - Grip, Stuart M. Abramson - Key Grip, Adam Milo Smalley - Music Editor, Jeff Danna - Musical Performer, Blair MacKay - Musical Performer, Timothy Clément - Musical Performer, Bill Brennan - Musical Performer, Mark Duggan - Musical Performer, Paul Houle - Musical Performer, Paul Intson - Musical Performer, Richard Ruttenberg - Musical Performer, Pauletta Washington - Musical Performer, Ann Christman - Production Coordinator, Richard McGuire - Properties, Peter Meda - Properties, James Mize - Properties, Dean L. Alexander - Properties, Jeff Baxter - Properties, William Branch - Properties, Arnold Castaneda - Properties, David J. Easterling - Properties, Kevin Gustavson - Properties, Thomas Kaschade - Properties, Thomas S. Morris - Properties, Rick Myers - Properties, Thomas T. Nikitas - Properties, David Pixler - Properties, Michael Poolman - Properties, Scott Renner - Properties, Will Blount - Properties Master, Anna Behlmer - Re-Recording Mixer, James Bolt - Re-Recording Mixer, William Stein - Re-Recording Mixer, Annie Welles - Script Supervisor, Don Wilkerson - Second Assistant Director, David Kulczycki - Sound Effects Director, Marty Bresin - Special Effects Coordinator, Neal Norton - Steadicam Operator, Sidney Baldwin - Still Photographer, Donald Sylvester - Supervising Sound Editor, Murshel Lewis - Costume/Wardrobe, Charleen Richards - ADR Mixer, David Lucarelli - ADR Recordist, Heather Hudson - Art Department Assistant, Al Lewis - Art Department Assistant, Artis I. Gaines - Assistant Location Manager, Tricia Lynch - Assistant Location Manager, Kei Rowan Young - Assistant Location Manager, Mark Davies - Assistant Location Manager, Carrie Black Gallison - Assistant Production Coordinator, Jen O'Neal - Assistant Production Coordinator, Monica Castro - Assistant Properties, Lynn Kramer - Assistant Properties, James Babineaux - Best Boy Electric, Marc Leeger - Best Boy Grip, Melissa Elbaum - Buyer, Mindy Frank - Buyer, William Keily Cronin - Camera Loader, Renee Shuyten - Camera Loader, Donna R. Harrison - Casting Assistant, A. Doran Reed - Casting Associate, Lars Peterson - Construction Coordinator, Winnie Brown Willis - Costumes Supervisor, Mildred Iatrou Morgan - Dialogue Editor, Jason Newton - Dolly Grip, Glenn E. Moran - Electrician, Julie Lindstrom - Electrician, Erik A. Erichsen - Electrician, Jeff Fisher - Electrician, Lester Parker - Electrician, Chris B. Shaw - Electrician, Stephen Thorp - Electrician, Michael Walsh - Electrician, Tina Real Agency - Extra Casting, Carole A. Kenneally - First Assistant Editor, Alicia Stevenson - Foley Artist, Dawn Fintor - Foley Artist, Steve F. Price - Foley Editor, Kenneth Walker - Key Hairstylist, Troy Borisy - Leadman, Rocky Slaymaker - Leadman, Moses D. Isreal Jr. - Personal Assistant, Andrew Lockington - Personal Assistant, James E. Todd - Scenic Artist, Don Duffield III - Second Assistant Camera, Rod Sandoval - Second Assistant Camera, Karen Davis - Second Second Assistant Director, Hope R. Goodwin - Second Second Assistant Director, Brenda Garcia - Second Second Assistant Director, Manuel Castillo - Set Dresser, Rod Ledta - Set Dresser, Matt McGuire - Set Dresser, Daniel W. Roberts - Set Dresser, Leonard Rothstein - Set Dresser, Diego Sanchez - Set Dresser, J.D. Smith - Set Dresser, James W. Crawford - Set Production Assistant, Sean Duckworth - Set Production Assistant, Johnny Haddad - Set Production Assistant, Iris Huezo - Set Production Assistant, Levi James - Set Production Assistant, Karl Jefferson - Set Production Assistant, Toya Milawan Profit - Set Production Assistant, Audric Thompson - Set Production Assistant, Warren Drummond - Storyboard Artist, Antwone Quenton Fisher - Book Author, David Holmes - Cable Person, John S. Bukala - Construction Foreman, David Batancourt - Foley Mixer, Gary Burritt - Negative Cutter, Rebecca Kirkland - Production Secretary, C. Don DeBaun - Set Medic/First Aid, Jim Dresser - Set Medic/First Aid, Sheila Goldfarb - Set Medic/First Aid, Robert "Sarge" Hepburn - Set Medic/First Aid, Virginia Spaganlo - Set Medic/First Aid, Jon Nicholson - Swing Gang, James K. Butler - Swing Gang, Troy Flores - Swing Gang, Jack Gardener - Swing Gang, Dennis G. Knight - Swing Gang, Ken McCahan - Swing Gang, Frank McKeon - Swing Gang, Jason Truitt - Swing Gang, Kevin P. Boyd - Video Assist, Caitlin McKenna - Voice Casting, Jennifer Calbi - Assistant Editor, Daniel Kupresan - Assistant Editor, Bryan Lawson - Assistant Music Editor, George McDougall - Carpenter, William Biggerstaff - Painter, Bill K. Hoyt - Painter, Greg Musselman - Painter, Gregory Puchalski - Painter, Franklin Rodriguez - Painter, Bryan Wheeler - Painter
Black was first inspired to make the film upon hearing the story from Fisher, who was then working as a security guard at Sony Pictures Studios.[citation needed]
The film is about an American sailor who finds himself confronting his traumatic past after being sent to a navalpsychologist. Refusing at first to open up, the young man eventually breaks down and reveals a horrific childhood. Various flashbacks directly present his foster motherphysically abusing him. Another flashback has her daughter ordering him to kiss her and then go to the basement where it is presumed she sexually abused him at age six whenever the mother left them alone. Through the guidance of his naval psychologist, he not only confronts his painful past but also begins a quest to find the family he never knew.
The film received favorable reviews from film critics, as review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 78% of critics gave the film positive write-ups, based on 144 reviews. Praise was given especially towards Washington's directing.[1]
