Antwone Fisher (2002)

Director:

Denzel Washington

Writer (WGA):

Antwone Fisher (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Inspired by a true story.

Plot:

Antwone Fisher, a young navy man, is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During the course of treatment a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins.

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatrist | Navy | Sailor | Beating | Anger

Awards:

15 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Derek Luke	...	Antwone Quenton 'Fish' Fisher
Malcolm David Kelley	...	Antwone Fisher Age 7
Cory Hodges	...	Antwone Fisher Age 14
Denzel Washington	...	Dr. Jerome Davenport
Joy Bryant	...	Cheryl Smolley
Salli Richardson-Whitfield	...	Berta Davenport (as Salli Richardson)
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Pork Chop
Kente Scott	...	Kansas City (as Kenté Scott)
Kevin Connolly	...	Slim
Rainoldo Gooding	...	Grayson
Novella Nelson	...	Mrs. Tate
Stephen Snedden	...	Berkley
Leo Nepomuceno	...	SP #1
Sung Kang	...	Receptionist
Cordell Stokes	...	Keith Age 5
Ellis Williams	...	Reverend Tate (as Ellis E. Williams)
Timothy Reddick	...	Dwight Age 8
Yolonda Ross	...	Nadine
De'Angelo Wilson	...	Jesse Age 19 (as De'Angelo K. Wilson)
Jascha Washington	...	Jesse Age 8
Vernee Watson-Johnson	...	Aunt Annette (as Vernée Watson-Johnson)
Viola Davis	...	Eva May
Earl Billings	...	Uncle James Elkins
Margaret Ford-Taylor	...	Eda
Bob Banks	...	Horace
Jada S. Louie	...	Jeannette
Rebecca Morris	...	Anna
Brandon Biggins	...	Eddie
Brandon Lewis	...	Ray
Eddie Baccus	...	Blind Piano Player
David Fowler	...	Chief Master-At-Arms
Sean'e La'Dae	...	Edward
Linda Cevallos	...	Sexy Woman
O.L. Duke	...	Uncle Duke
Charles Robinson	...	Howard (as Charlie Robinson)
Michelle Davison	...	Johnny Mae
Fran Dorsey	...	Owner
Ruth Stehle	...	Snide Clerk
John Pittman Jr.	...	Another Clerk
Lissy Gulick	...	Mona
Edward C. Reynolds III	...	Man
André Patton	...	Kenny
Rita Pearson	...	Cashier
Janaya Reynolds	...	Young Girl #1
Na'tasha Marie Evans	...	Young Girl #2
Doug Jewell	...	Spinoza
Lynn E. Charles	...	Spinoza's Wife
Jason Dixon	...	Jason
Mary Bradley Marable	...	Older Lady
Teresa Hoefke	...	Case Worker
Angela Gillespie-Winborn	...	Woman in White
Kim Johnson	...	Disc Jockey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
April Bolds	...	Jerome Davenport's Niece (uncredited)
James Brolin	...	The Captain (uncredited)
Ruby Gonzalez	...	Salsa Dancer (uncredited)
Q Hasan	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Jenifer Lewis	...	Aunt (uncredited)

Directed by
Denzel Washington

Writing credits (WGA)
Antwone Fisher		(written by)

Produced by
Todd Black	....	producer
Antwone Fisher	....	co-producer
Randa Haines	....	producer
Nancy Paloian	....	executive producer (as Nancy Paloian-Breznikar)
Chris Smith	....	co-producer
Denzel Washington	....	producer
Gina White	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mychael Danna

Cinematography by
Philippe Rousselot		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Conrad Buff IV		(as Conrad Buff)

Casting by
Robi Reed-Humes

Production Design by
Nelson Coates

Art Direction by
David Lazan		(as David S. Lazan)

Set Decoration by
Anne D. McCulley		(as Anne McCulley)

Costume Design by
Sharen Davis

Makeup Department
Lynn E. Champagne	....	additional hair stylist (as Lynn Champagne)
Larry M. Cherry	....	hair stylist
Amrita Diane Ford	....	makeup artist (as Amrita-Diane Ford)
Carl Fullerton	....	makeup artist
Angela Johnson	....	additional makeup artist
Tanya Johnson	....	additional hair stylist: Cleveland
Fay Kelly	....	additional hair stylist
Pauletta O. Lewis	....	additional hair stylist (as Pauletta Lewis-Irwin)
Deborah Lilly	....	additional hair stylist: Cleveland (as Deborah Lily)
Kathy Madison	....	additional makeup artist: Cleveland
Cat'ania McCoy-Howze	....	additional makeup artist
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	....	additional makeup artist
Laini Thompson	....	additional makeup artist (as F. Laini Thompson)
Kenneth Walker	....	key hair stylist (as Ken Walker)
Soo-Jin Yoon	....	additional hair stylist (as Soo Jin Yoan)
Nadia Zogby	....	additional makeup artist: Cleveland

Production Management
Melissa Stanley Cohen	....	production supervisor (as Melissa 'Stanley' Cohen)
Leigh Shanta	....	unit production manager
Paul Springer	....	post-production supervisor: Lucasfilm (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Karen Davis	....	second second assistant director: Cleveland
Randy Fletcher	....	first assistant director
Brenda Garcia	....	additional second second assistant director
Hope R. Goodwin	....	second second assistant director (as Hope Goodwin)
Don Wilkerson	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Dean L. Alexander	....	propmaker
Mario A. Arce	....	laborer
Jeff Baxter	....	propmaker
William Biggerstaff	....	painter
Will Blount	....	property master
Troy Borisy	....	leadman
William Branch	....	propmaker
John S. Bukala	....	construction foreman: Cleveland
James Butler	....	swing gang: Cleveland (as James K. Butler)
Arnold Castaneda	....	propmaker
Manuel Castillo	....	set dresser
Monica Castro	....	assistant property master
Donald Paul Cooke	....	laborer
Laura J. DeRosa	....	design coordinator
Warren Drummond	....	storyboard artist
Michael Dudiak	....	assistant: Cleveland
David J. Easterling	....	propmaker
Matthew D. Egan	....	gangboss
Melissa Elbaum	....	buyer
Troy Flores	....	swing gang
Mindy Frank	....	construction buyer
Jack Gardener	....	swing gang: Cleveland
David Goldstein	....	lead painter
Kevin Gustavson	....	propmaker
John Hinkle	....	stand-by painter
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	painter (as Bill K. Hoyt)
Heather Hudson	....	art department assistant: Cleveland
Steven Inez	....	laborer
Thomas Kascade	....	propmaker (as Thomas Kaschade)
Joseph C. Kelley	....	labor foreman
Matthew C. Kime	....	second assistant props
Dennis G. Knight	....	swing gang: Cleveland
Lynn Kramer	....	assistant props: Cleveland
Rod Ledta	....	set dresser
Donald Leigl	....	utility painter: Cleveland
Al Lewis	....	art department assistant
Ken McCahan	....	swing gang: Cleveland
George McDougal	....	carpenter: Cleveland (as George McDougall)
Matt McGuire	....	set dresser
Richard N. McGuire	....	propmaker
Frank McKeon	....	swing gang: Cleveland
Pete E. Meda	....	propmaker
Barbara Mesney	....	set designer
James Mize	....	propmaker
Thomas S. Morris	....	propmaker
Greg Musselman	....	painter
Rick J. Myers	....	propmaker (as Rick Myers)
Christopher Naefke	....	plasterer
Jon Nicholson	....	swing gang: Cleveland
Thomas T. Nikitas	....	propmaker
Lars Petersen	....	construction coordinator
David Pixler	....	propmaker
Michael Poolman	....	propmaker
Robbie Porter	....	laborer (as Robert Porter)
James 'Andy' Price	....	plasterer foreman (as James Price)
Gregory Puchalski	....	painter: Cleveland
Scott C. Renner	....	propmaker (as Scott Renner)
Daniel W. Roberts	....	set dresser
Franklin Rodriguez	....	painter
Leonard Rothstein	....	set dresser
Diego Sanchez	....	set dresser
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer foreman (as Victor Shannon)
Rocky Slaymaker	....	leadman
J.D. Smith	....	on-set dresser
Paul Sonski	....	set designer
John L. Sullivan	....	construction gang boss (as John Sullivan)
James Thompson	....	laborer
James E. Todd	....	scenic: Cleveland
Jason Truitt	....	swing gang
Terri P. Tufts	....	paint foreman: Cleveland
Steven C. Voll	....	general foreman
Bryan S. Wheeler	....	painter (as Bryan Wheeler)
Shaun S. Wiggins	....	laborer
Chuck Coffman	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Sean O'Connell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Dennis Riewerts	....	draper (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Betancourt	....	foley artist (as David Batancourt)
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jim Bolt)
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Clifford 'Kip' Gynn	....	cable utility sound: Cleveland (as Kip Gynn)
Tom Hardisty	....	assistant engineer: The Newman Scoring Stage
David Holmes	....	cable person
Mildred Iatrou	....	dialogue editor (as Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
Dave Kulczycki	....	sound effects editor (as David Kulczycki)
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Joseph Lobato	....	second engineer: The Newman Scoring Stage
David Lucarelli	....	adr mixer
Matt Marrin	....	assistant engineer: The Newman Scoring Stage
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Steve F. Price	....	foley editor (as Steve Price)
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Ron Searles	....	sound recordist: Gamelan at CBC Toronto
William Stein	....	re-recording engineer
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist (as Alicia Stevenson-Irwin)
Donald Sylvester	....	supervising sound editor
Bill Talbott	....	engineer: The Newman Scoring Stage
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator
Marvin Felton	....	special effects
David A. Poole	....	special effects (as David Poole)
Joshua Cheek	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Richard Rivera	....	special effects coordinator: Cleveland (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Mark Sawicki	....	optical camera (uncredited)

Stunts
Keith Butler	....	stunts
Alex Madison	....	stunts (as Gail Monian)
Robert Powell	....	stunts (as Robert 'Ripp' Powell)
Dain Turner	....	stunts
Tierre Turner	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Waite	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Abramson	....	key grip (as Stuart M. Abramson)
James Babineaux	....	best boy electric
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer (as Sidney R. Baldwin)
Billy Beaird	....	rigging grip
Kevin Boyd	....	video assist operator (as Kevin P. Boyd)
Joe Cassano	....	grip: Cleveland
Xiomara Comrie	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kiely Cronin	....	camera loader: Cleveland (as William Kiely Cronin)
Damon Degrignon	....	crane technician: Technocrane
Don Duffield III	....	second assistant camera
Jack English	....	gaffer
Erik A. Erichsen	....	electrician
Russ Faust	....	grip: Cleveland
Jeff Fisher	....	electrician: Cleveland
Greg Flores	....	rigging grip
Seth Greenwald	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Gary Lamantia	....	technician: Wescam camera (as Gary LaMantia)
Marc Leeger	....	best boy grip
Julie 'Doc' Lindstrom	....	electrician: Cleveland (as Julie Ann Lindstrom)
Rick Linkowski	....	company grip
Glenn E. Moran	....	electrician (as Glenn Moran)
Tony Nagy	....	first assistant camera
Jason Newton	....	dolly grip
Keith Nickoson	....	dolly grip: "b" camera, Cleveland (as Keith P. Nickoson)
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (as Dave Norris)
Neal Norton	....	Steadicam operator
Neal Norton	....	camera operator
Lester Parker	....	electrician: Cleveland
Arnaud Peiny	....	key rigging grip
Joe-Joe Presson	....	company grip (as Joseph 'Jo Jo' Presson)
Pamela Rittelmeyer	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Joel A. Ruiz	....	rigging grip
Rodney Sandoval	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Rod Sandoval)
Gregory J. Schmidt	....	libra head operator
Renee Schuyten	....	camera loader
Chris Shaw	....	electrician (as Chris B. Shaw)
Cameron Thorburn	....	company grip
Stephen Thorp	....	electrician
Michael J. Walsh	....	electrician (as Michael Walsh)
Enrique Rico	....	grip (uncredited)
Kirk Tedeski	....	video playback coordinator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Adrienne Brown	....	casting production assistant: Cleveland
Kenneth Clemmons	....	casting production assistant: Cleveland
Traci Easley-Williams	....	casting production assistant: Cleveland
Donna R. Harrison	....	casting assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	voice casting (as Caitlin McKenna)
Lillian Pyles	....	casting: Cleveland
Doran Reed	....	casting associate (as A. Doran Reed)
Will Moore	....	casting production assistant (uncredited)
Tina Real	....	extras casting: local (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne Bastidos	....	set costumer
Winnie D. Brown	....	costume supervisor (as Winnie Brown-Willis)
Murshel Lewis	....	wardrobe: Cleveland (as Murshel C. Lewis)
Marylou Lim	....	set costumer
Frank Perry Rose	....	costumer: Mr. Washington (as Frank Rose)
Riki Sausawa-Roach	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Jennifer Calbi	....	assistant editor
Carole A. Kenneally	....	first assistant editor (as Carole Ann Kenneally)
Daniel Kupresan	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Warren Paeff	....	additional editor
Keith Sam	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
Bill Brennan	....	musician: Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan
Tim Clement	....	musician: electric guitar (as Tim Clément)
Jeff Danna	....	musician: acoustic guitar
Sandy DeCrescent	....	scoring contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor: score
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator: score
Mark Duggan	....	musician: Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan
Brad Haehnel	....	score recordist
Paul Houle	....	musician: Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan
Paul Intson	....	music programmer
Paul Intson	....	musician: bass
Bryan Lawson	....	assistant music editor (as Brian Lawson)
Andrew Lockington	....	assistant to composer
Blair Mackay	....	musician: Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan
John Rodd	....	orchestra recordist: The Newman Scoring Stage
Rich Ruttenberg	....	musician: piano (as Richard Ruttenberg)
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Pauletta Washington	....	musician: piano
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John A. Brubaker	....	transportation captain
Gavin Roberson	....	driver: Mr. Washington
Amy Sterner	....	transportation assistant
Wayne Williams	....	transportation coordinator
Rob Byer	....	driver (uncredited)
Mike Storc	....	transportation (uncredited)
Kevin Warendorp	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Molly Allen	....	location manager
Joan Andrews	....	location production assistant: Cleveland
Kim Andrews	....	office production assistant: Cleveland
Carolyn Bishop	....	production assistant
Angelique Bones	....	key set production assistant (as Angelique Graham-Bones)
Matt Cahill	....	location production assistant
Ann Christman	....	production coordinator (as Ann S. Christman)
Ron Clarke	....	office production assistant
Chris Crago	....	film runner
James W. Crawford Jr.	....	set production assistant
Mark Davies	....	location assistant
C. Don DeBaun	....	medic
Thomas K. Diehl	....	head technician: Libra (as Thomas Diehl)
Lisa D. DiSanto	....	clearance coordinator
Jim Dresser	....	medic
Beth Dubber	....	travel coordinator: Cleveland
Sean Duckworth	....	set production assistant: Cleveland
Linda Edminson	....	teacher: Cleveland
James D. Emory	....	film runner
Marquis Frost	....	location production assistant: Cleveland
Artis I. Gaines	....	assistant location manager: Cleveland
Carrie Black Gallison	....	assistant production coordinator
Will Gatlin	....	craft service: Cleveland
David Gerson	....	on-set assistant: Mr. Black
Sheila Goldfarb	....	medic
Cy Grospe	....	office production assistant (as Cyrillynn P. Grospe)
Johnny Haddad	....	set production assistant
Paul Hammer	....	psychiatric technical advisor (as Cdr. Paul Hammer)
Robert Hepburn	....	medic (as Robert 'Sarge' Hepburn)
Iris Huezo	....	set production assistant
Moses D. Isreal Jr.	....	assistant: Mr. Washington, Cleveland
Levi James	....	set production assistant
Karl Jefferson	....	set production assistant: Cleveland
Beverly Jusi	....	first assistant accountant (as Beverly L. Mink)
Rebecca Kirkland	....	production secretary
Steven R. Kutcher	....	entomology consultant
Alex Lerner	....	assistant auditor
Brandon Linville	....	second assistant accountant
Tricia Lynch	....	assistant location manager: Cleveland
James Maclin	....	craft service: Cleveland
Lashawn McCrary	....	office production assistant: Cleveland
Annette Moreno	....	craft service
Doug Moreno	....	production accountant
Saalahudeen Lunsford Muhammed	....	personal security: Mr. Washington (as Sal Muhammed)
Jen O'Neal	....	assistant production coordinator: Cleveland
Rita Pearson	....	executive assistant: Mr. Washington
Toya Milawan Profit	....	set production assistant: Cleveland
Marjorie Pyles-Hearst	....	teacher: Cleveland
Sol Rivera	....	craft service
Kei Rowan-Young	....	assistant location manager (as Kei Rowan Young)
Kathy Rowe	....	executive assistant: Mr. Black
Karen Scarborough	....	payroll accountant
Karen Shane	....	assistant auditor
Virginia Spaganlo	....	medic: Cleveland
Tom Steel	....	stage crew: The Newman Scoring Stage
Lou Sumien Jr.	....	projectionist
Cid Swank	....	unit publicist (as Sid Swank)
Kimberly Taylor	....	teacher: Cleveland
Damon Tedesco	....	stage crew: The Newman Scoring Stage
Audric Thompson	....	production assistant
Linda Warrilow	....	coordinator: Navy
Annie Welles	....	script supervisor
Cedi Ali Rajah	....	production assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Tim Ball	....	production assistant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Ron Clark	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brian Dickson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Todd Fullerton	....	24 frame video/computer engineer (uncredited)
James Gierman	....	location consultant (uncredited)
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist (uncredited)
Saisie M. Jang	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lance Johnson	....	story editor (uncredited)
Porfirio Landeros	....	dancer (uncredited)
Ellen Lent	....	location scout (uncredited)
Charles Moore	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video effects supervisor (uncredited)
Laetitia Santore	....	dancer (uncredited)

Thanks
Cdr. Robert Anderson	....	thanks: Navy Office of Information West (as Cdr Robert Anderson, USN)
Edward Elkins	....	in memory of
Bob Hiday	....	thanks: AMSEC
Philip M. Strub	....	thanks: Special Assistant for Entertainment Media (as Philip Strub)
Tyler Swartz	....	thanks: Navy Office of Information West (as JO1 Tyler Swartz, USN)
Lt. Tanya Wallace	....	thanks: Navy Office of Information West (as Lt. Tanya Wallace, USN)
Lt. Marc Williams	....	thanks: Navy Office of Information West (as Lt. Marc Williams, USN)

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Mundy Lane Entertainment

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (a News Corporation company)
• 20th Century Fox (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Gemini Film (200?) (Russia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)

Special Effects

• E=mc² (24 frame video effects) (uncredited)
• Effects Group, The

Other Companies

• 12th Marine Corps District  thanks
• Aerial Brilliance Inc.  aerolite balloons provided by
• Amphibious Construction Battalion ONE  thanks
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Chicago Studio MovieMakers  cast trailers supplied by (uncredited)
• Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection  thanks (as The Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection)
• Custom Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Eastwood Scoring Stage  orchestra recorded at (as Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage)
• Electronic Warefare Training Group, Pacific  thanks
• Gala Catering  catering (as Gala Catering)
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Joann Kane Music Services)
• Malcolm Brown Gallery  thanks
• Naval Base Coronado  thanks
• Naval Medical Center San Diego  thanks
• Naval Station San Diego  thanks
• Navy Exchange Systen NAS North Island NEX  thanks
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  orchestra recorded at (as The Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox)
• On Location Education  children's tutoring
• Panavision Remote Systems  remote cranes and heads
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Reel Security  production security
• San Diego Film Commission, The  thanks
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at (as Signet Sound Studios)
• Sony Pictures Studios  orchestra recorded at (as Sony Pictures)
• Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego  thanks
• Superb Records  soundtrack
• TM Equipment Rentals  lighting and electrical equipment (as TM Equipment Rentals, Inc.)
• The Cleveland Film Commission  thanks
• The Majority Press Inc.  thanks
• The San Diego Historical Society Photograph Collection  thanks
• Tina Real Casting  extras casting (as Tina Real Agency)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, Hollywood  post-production facilities provided by (as Twentieth Century Fox Studios)
• U.S. Department of Defense  thanks (as Department of Defense)
• United States Navy, The  thanks (as U.S. Navy)
• Vera Moore Cosmetics  makeup supplied by
• Wescam USA  Wescam system provided by (as Westcam Incorporated)

Also Known As:

Finding Fish (USA) (working title)
Fish (USA) (original script title)
The Antwone Fisher Story (USA) (working title)
Antwone Fisher (Greece) (TV title) [el]
Antwone Fisher (Canada: French title) [fr]
Antwone Fisher (Spain) [es]
Antwone Fisher, una victoria sobre el pasado (Spain) [es]
El triunfo del espíritu: Antwone Fisher (Argentina) [es]
Tapaus Antwone Fisher (Finland) [fi]
Voltando a Viver (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse.

Runtime:

120 min | Canada:117 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39019) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Many extras in the film were active duty U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel from various commands within the Southern California area.

Goofs:

Continuity: The ships seen out of the doctor's office kept changing.

Quotes:

[Antwone's all-purpose conversation starter]
Antwone Fisher: I could eat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Humpty Dance

Showing African-American Families for Ill and Good

I went to see "Antwone Fisher" as an accident of multi-plex sold-out theaters and was girded for schmaltz, but was curious to see Denzel Washington's directorial debut.

Whoa, the whole audience--including me-- burst out into tears at the same time, with many also bursting out into applause at a later moment. But could anyone have ruined such strong material as this autobiographical story by the screenwriter?

Washington's prim, prudish fingers are all over the structure-- I read that it was his decisions to tone down the abuse Fisher actually suffered, and to add in more of his character's, the shrink, role with his (yet another light-skinned, straight-haired) wife because he thought the audience needed a break from Fisher, and I disagree with both choices.

Where Washington is especially effective - and the scenes that prompted the tears and the applause-- is in showing African-American families so naturally, with a diversity of personalities, reactions, motivations, and interactions, comparable to Barry Levinson's Jewish family sagas. He's more pedestrian in the macho military environment, unlike, say, how comfortably in-your-face Curtis Hanson's "8 Mile" is with guys together.

This is very much like a black "Three Faces of Eve" showing the solution to psychological problems as remembering, talking about, and reconciling with the past.

The scenes with Fisher and his too-nice girlfriend are charming. But we don't really get an answer to the question, as to how it is that Fisher, who even at the beginning of the movie is not hardened but is basically a sweet guy who just happens to throw punches a lot, ended up all right when everyone else in his milieu ended up in jail or worse.