Antwone Fisher is a REAL PERSON. On top of that his story directed by Denzel Washington is one of the most touching, emphatic, poignant films I have ever watched. I knew little of this strong man who found king within himself to rise above every downtrodden match thrown his way. It's the story of a man who finally finds peace within himself thanks to unfortunate circumstances.
Antwone Fisher both the character onscreen and the real life man tells the story of someone who's father was killed by a gunshot blast by an ex-girlfriend shortly before he was born in 1959. Even worse for Antwone is that his 17-year-old mother gave him up for foster care while she was in prison. It gets worse as Antwone's foster mother, Mrs. Tate, successfully browbeats and demeans her many wards. His working-class African American neighborhood in Cleveland became purgatory for a sensitive, intelligent boy who quickly turned into a withdrawn underperformer at school.
Much of the movie takes place while Fisher is in the Navy. Upon coming awfully close to losing his place among the sailors, he is ordered to visit Dr. Jerome Davenport. This psychatrist brings something to Fisher that he never had before. He shows him the pain inside and convinces Fisher to take the hard journey to find his family and answer questions that linger long and hard in his head.
The acting here is first rate with direction from Washington that proves he has what it takes. The total snub at the Oscars for this film is really sad since this story is the kind of inspiration America needs more of, especially in this day and age of war. It's not often that the human spirit can overcome so many challenges but Antwone Fisher does just that. Definitely one of the best films of the year!
The Disc:
Presented in anamorphic widescreen, Antwone Fisher is colorful and vivid. Much of the film takes place in Naval environments, which means plenty of blues. The film just reasonates with color throughout.
The audio comes in standard 5.1 DD or Surround 2.0. Without much action and a slower pace to the film it's no surprise that the sounds here are pretty clear but uneventful. The voices in the center channel are crisp and the right and left is used well enough.
Extras here include an audio commentary featuring director/star Denzel Washington and producer Todd Black. The tone is light and even humorous at times, as Washington provides an energetic presence. There are also a few featurettes, one with the real Antwone Fisher, the second about the Navy's relationship with the movies, and the last a general, promotional behind the scenes piece.
bottom line:
It's rare that we give out a top score but Antwone Fisher easily deserves the honor. This movie is perfect for anyone who has ever felt like life is too hard. Antwone proves anyone can succeed if they really want to.
5 out of 5
By - Brian Gray
