Antwone Fisher (Full Screen)

Antwone Fisher's story shows the importance of families in the emotional development of human beings at the earliest age. In a time when we have been bombarded with guilt-stories we tend to shake off what we consider as another attempt at making us feel guilty. But this story isn't about making anyone feel guilt. It shows the struggles that face people who have not had the security of a family, and it helps those who haven't experienced that sort of insecurity relate to those that have.

I'm not a big-fan of love interests either, but I think it was important to show that his girlfriend played a role in his rehabilitation. One thing I did not like about the movie was Denzel's character almost compelling Fisher to lose his virginity. I don't think this sends the right message especially to those young people who may be watching this movie, but then what movies do?

The acting wasn't bad, although the movie had that Hollywood feel to it. I think some stories get through even if they are painted with tinsel-town's brush, and for this to have been Denzel's debut as a director adds to the specialness of this movie. I hope he comes out with another one sometime soon.
On another note, it's good to see a positive potrayal of Afro-American people on film, there have been too many 'gangsta' films coming out of Hollywood of late.

Finally, watch this movie to get a perspective on your own life.

Davenport and Fisher develop a close relationship in a way that becomes rewarding but limiting for both, but Dr. Davenport has the professionalism to urge Fisher to seek out his real family. Fisher does and learns a lot about himself and gains some healing connections with his life.

Denzel Washington also directed this movie and I think he did a fine job. This is a good movie for young people (if not children) to watch. It can teach adolescents something about the problems and emotions they are facing.

We have all heard the alarming statistics about how many African-American children are raised in homes without a father and the devastaing impact that has had on generations of such children, and on one level "Antwone Fisher" is about one such child. This 2003 film begins with a dream in which Antwone walks into a room and finds his entire family gathered for a big meal. Then he wakes up on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier on which he serves. The next thing we know Antwone is getting into fights if anybody says the wrong word to him. The captain hits him with a list of punishments and also requires him to see a therapist, Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington), before the ship sails again. Antwone refuses to talk and in the tradition of "Good Will Hunting" Davenport waits him out. Eventually Antwone begins to tell his story and we learn of his horrific childhood.

Antwone's father was murdered before he was born, which was in the prison where his mother was surving time. When we see him as a boy he is in a foster home where he is abused emotionally, physically, and sexually. All of his problems stem from what happened then and Davenport helps Antwone to put the pieces together. But the final part of the healing process is Davenport's insistance that he has to go and find his family, whatever there is left to be found, and confront the last of his demons. At this point we discover that everything in the first hour-and-a-half of "Antwone Fisher" has been mere prologue to the powerful series of scenes that conclude the film.

The story behind this film is almost as impressive as the film itself. Fisher was a security guard at the Sony Studio when his screenplay was bought and Denzel Washington decided to make it in his first try at director. Then throw into the mix Derek Luke, a newcomer who was cast in the lead role and the end result is even more impressive. We are told at the end of the film that Fisher based the screenplay on his life but dramatized some of the scenes, which is always the case, though rarely admitted so boldly. Of course such a comment immediately makes your curious as to what was changed and why, but I quickly decided I did not care. That was because I liked the way the film ended and I do not care if it "true" or not because of the way it rings true, which is what matters most in film. What makes "Antwone Fisher" worth the seeing is the value it places on family, most notably by it absence, but also by the idea that it is out there if it you can find it.