2003 Movie
Dir. Denzel Washington · United States of America · English, Japanese
An old-fashioned character study that boasts the talents of star Derek Luke
The story of Antwone Fisher as told by Denzel Washington (in his directorial debut) may be a bit too straightforward for its own good, but it only proves the strength of his eye and ear for performance. In addition to turning in his own understated yet authoritative performance, Washington gets a powerhouse turn out of Derek Luke, who allows every new revelation about Fisher to strengthen every aspect of his work. What the film gets right about talking about mental health (that other movies get so wrong) is that it knows that providing an explanation for why someone is the way they are shouldn’t be a dramatic climax. What Antwone Fisher emphasizes is healing, community, and the dignity of the person working through these issues.
A sailor prone to violent outbursts is sent to a naval psychiatrist for help. Refusing at first to open up, the young man eventually breaks down and reveals a horrific childhood. Through the guidance of his doctor, he confronts his painful past and begins a quest to find the family he never knew.
"Crafted with the same measured intensity and quiet authority found in his best onscreen work, Denzel Washington's debut behind the camera, Antwone Fisher, is an emotionally charged true-life story of one man's tenacity and eventual redemption."
— Eddie Cockrell
Spirit Awards
1 win · 1 nom
WGA
1 nom
Nat. Board of Review
1 nom
Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.
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