Movie Review for Antwone Fisher

Summary: Based on a true story, a biographical drama centering upon Antwone "Fish" Fisher who--once a Sony Pictures security guard--eventually gained fame as an acclaimed writer and a Hollywood producer. In the earlier part of his life, he was a sailor prone to violent outbursts. On the verge of being kicked out of the Navy for repeated fighting, he 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 rife with abuse. With the help of a Navy psychiatrist, he turns his life around and decides to embark on a search to find the family that abandoned him as a baby. Through the guidance of his doctor, he confronts his painful past and begins a quest to find the family he never knew. In the course of that search, his life changes dramatically.

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Josh Ralske of All Movie Guide (7/0)
            A competent tearjerker...

By Terri Clark of Apollo Guide (7/0)
            Has the capability of effecting change and inspiring hope.

By Philip Martin of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (7/0)
            a film of quiet dignity and calm intelligence that takes no shortcuts to its emotional payoff ......

By Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of Atlanta Journal-Constitution (7/0)
            An involving, inspirational drama that sometimes falls prey to its sob-story trappings.

By Marjorie Baumgarten of Austin Chronicle (7/0)
            In his debut as a film director, Denzel Washington delivers a lean and engaging work.

By Rob Thomas of Capital Times (Madison, WI) (7/0)
            Fisher’s story is worth telling, and the few clunky narrative tricks he employs in 'Antwone Fishe...

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (7/0)
            A film that begins with the everyday lives of naval personnel in San Diego and ends with scenes s...

By Mark Caro of Chicago Tribune (7/0)
            Celebrates family in a way that's deeply felt by the director and screenwriter/subject and no dou...

By Mark Palermo of Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (7/0)
            It doesn’t amount to a whole lot, but it's frequently moving and reasonably well made.

By Jeffrey M. Anderson of Combustible Celluloid (7/0)
            It's no surprise that as a director Washington demands and receives excellent performances, from ...

By Harvey S. Karten of Compuserve (7/0)
            Conventional story elevated by two impressive lead performances.

By Robert Denerstein of Denver Rocky Mountain News (7/0)
            Marks a strong directorial performance by Washington, who foregoes tricky maneuvers and allows th...

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Jeff Vice of Deseret News, Salt Lake City (7/0)
            Heartwarming and touching, and it features a stirring, needed message about putting the past to r...

By Erik Childress of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            The structure the film takes may find Matt Damon and Ben Affleck once again looking for residuals...

By Doris Toumarkine of Film Journal International (5/2)
            So beautifully acted and directed, it's clear that Washington most certainly has a new career ahe...

By Jimmy O of Film Snobs (7/0)
            While reeking of a Good Will Ordinary People , Denzel still creates a compelling story.

By Victoria Alexander of FilmsInReview.com (7/0)
            The problem with ANTWONE FISHER is that it has a screenplay written by Antwone Fisher based on th...

By Todd Gilchrist of FilmStew.com (7/0)
            . . .one of the year’s most insightful and evocative films.

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Rick Groen of Globe and Mail (7/0)
            Well-meaning to a fault, Antwone Fisher manages the dubious feat of turning one man's triumph of ...

By Ross Anthony of Hollywood Report Card (7/0)
            Hard, endearing, caring, warm. Bring tissues.

By Eric Harrison of Houston Chronicle (7/0)
            In his debut as a director, Washington has a sure hand. His work with actors is particularly impr...

By Gary Brown of Houston Community Newspapers (7/0)
            An uplifting, near-masterpiece.

By Liz Braun of Jam! Movies (7/0)
            While the path may be familiar, first-time director Denzel Washington and a top-notch cast manage...

By JoBlo of JoBlo's Movie Emporium (6/1)
            I felt good while watching the movie and had an extra jump in my step as I walked out of the thea...

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Ernest Hardy of L.A. Weekly (7/0)
            Offers an impressive melding of quietly radical images and ideas with, yes, an old-fashioned, cro...

By Robert Roten of Laramie Movie Scope (7/0)
            A stunning achievement for actor/director Denzel Washington.

By Duane Dudek of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/0)
            Less cinematically powerful than quietly and deeply moving, which is powerful in itself.

By Nell Minow of Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies (7/0)
            At first, the fact that this movie does not follow the usual pattern can feel disconcerting, even...

By Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews (7/0)
            The film works well as a conventional tear-jerker drama told in a straightforward no-nonsense man...

By Jeanne Aufmuth of Palo Alto Weekly (7/0)
            Trivial where it should be profound, and hyper-cliched where it should be sincere.

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Jon Popick of Planet Sick-Boy (7/0)
            Yet another year-end, by-the-numbers, button-pushing biopic, but this one is sub-par even when co...

By Glenn Kenny of Premiere Magazine (7/0)
            When the tears start coming, they're not jerked from you -- they're honestly earned, and they're ...

By James Kendrick of Q Network Film Desk (7/0)
            a noble, but largely undistinguished work, one that may very well make a lot of people feel warm ...

By Linda Cook of Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (7/0)
            A moving story of determination and the human spirit.

By Rod Armstrong of Reel.com (7/0)
            That the real Antwone Fisher was able to overcome his personal obstacles and become a good man is...

By Laura Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            a by-the-numbers patient/doctor pic that covers all the usual ground

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Robin Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            “Antwone Fisher” is an earnest, by-the-numbers effort by Washington. It won’t rock any boats but ...

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (7/0)
            It's a familiar story, but one that is presented with great sympathy and intelligence.

By Forrest Hartman of Reno Gazette-Journal (7/0)
            As an actor, Denzel Washington is excellent at fleshing out roles, and he shows the same ability ...

By Jack Garner of Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (7/0)
            As an actor, Denzel Washington has demonstrated remarkable humanity, talent and intelligence. Now...

By Joe Baltake of Sacramento Bee (7/0)
            The level of acting elevates the material above pat inspirational status and gives it a sturdines...

By Jean Lowerison of San Diego Metropolitan (7/0)
            This is a fine family film.

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By William Arnold of Seattle Post-Intelligencer (7/0)
            [Washington's] strong hand, keen eye, sweet spirit and good taste are reflected in almost every s...

By Moira MacDonald of Seattle Times (7/0)
            There's a simplicity and heart to Antwone Fisher ... that's extremely appealing.

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat of Spirituality and Practice (7/0)
            A tender and touching drama, based on the true story of a troubled African-American's quest to co...

By Rob Blackwelder of SPLICEDWire (7/0)
            Fisher has bared his soul and confronted his own shortcomings here in a way...that feels very hum...

By Tony Toscano of Talking Pictures (U.S.) (7/0)
            ...an extremely touching story

By Audrey Rock-Richardson of Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (7/0)
            ...it’s the raw personal story, at turns disturbing and uplifting, that gives the movie it’s weig...

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Alex Keen of Trades (7/0)
            This film is easily one of the year’s best because it never hides its intentions, but still carri...

By Michael Atkinson of Village Voice (7/0)
            Everything -- even life on an aircraft carrier -- is sentimentalized.

By Jeffrey Chen of Window to the Movies (7/0)
            An uplifting drama ... What Antwone Fisher isn't, however, is original.

By Christopher Smith of Bangor Daily News (Maine) (6/1) No reference
            Although Antwone Fisher is formulaic and at times predictable, it's also beautifully measured and...

By Rick Kisonak of Film Threat (3/4) No reference
            Who writes a screen treatment of their life and then an autobiography?

By Robert W. Butler of Kansas City Star (3/4) No reference
            The film starts out as competent but unremarkable ... and gradually grows into something of consi...

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Josh Bell of Las Vegas Weekly (3/4) No reference
            Yes, Antwone Fisher is a good movie, in the way that lima beans are good food. You may leave the ...

By John Larsen of Light Views (6/1) No reference
            Fisher's tale is given emotional ballast by newcomer Derek Luke, who doesn't just play Fisher, he...

By Michael Elliott of Movie Parables (3/4) No reference
            There's an undercurrent of intelligence and humor which helps ground the film and a considerable ...

By Roger Moore of Orlando Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            A film as modestly underplayed and as unassumingly classy as the star who also directed it.

By David Elliott of San Diego Union-Tribune (3/4) No reference
            Washington directed, and like most actors-turned-directors he brings great care to establishing p...

By Chris Hewitt (St. Paul) of St. Paul Pioneer Press (3/4) No reference
            An absorbing, well-acted film with a low-key sense of humor.

                         Reviews of Antwone Fisher
By Josh Larsen of Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (3/4) No reference
            ...a triumphant, three-way debut.

By Jonathan R. Perry of Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (3/4) No reference
            Denzel Washington's directorial debut reveals a capable -- if often alarmingly low-key -- presenc...

By Josef Braun of Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) (3/4) No reference
            Antwone Fisher certainly does the trick of making us care about its protagonist and celebrate his...

By Ann Gorman of Washington Post (3/4) No reference
            A riveting story well told.

Movie Distributors

Production Companies
Escape Artists
Randa
Black & Blu Entertainment
Randa Haines/Todd Black Productions
Haines Company
Mundy Lane Entertainment

Movie Studios
Fox Searchlight Pictures