Antwone Fisher

Denzel Washington

Overview

Denzel Washington's directorial debut, the emotionally stirring Antwone Fisher, comes to DVD; while it's a surprise this film didn't do better in theaters, it will now have it's chance on home video. Fox has done a fine job with this disc, producing an excellent transfer that mirrors the theatrical print. The 2.35:1 anamorphic image (yes, there is a severely cropped pan and scan version also available) shows fine detail and outstanding contrast. Colors are perfectly realized and very realistic. The English 5.1 Dolby Digital track is nothing to really get excited about, as it's based more in the front-center speaker, but the sound is clear throughout, and, for this dialogue-driven film, that's all that can be asked. A decent number of extras have been included here, such as a scene-specific commentary track from Washington and producer Todd Black. Each is enthusiastic and forthcoming, and contribute plenty to a fine track. Also included are three featurettes: "Meeting Antwone Fisher," as would be expected, is more interview-based information of the man who is not only the subject of the film but also wrote the screenplay; "Hollywood and the Navy," the shortest of the three, looks at the (especially post 9/11) relationship between the Navy and the filmmakers; and the last, and longest, is "The Making of Antwone Fisher," a fairly straightforward (and a tad fluffy) look at the overall production. Finally, although there isn't a theatrical trailer for this film, ones for Drumline, In America, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Le Divorce are included.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/20/2003
UPC:	0024543077060
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Fox Searchlight
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Time:	2:00:00
Sales rank:	5,476

Special Features

Director commentary by Denzel Washington; "Meeting Antwone Fisher" featurette; "The Making of Antwone Fisher" behind-the-scenes documentary, "Hollywood & The Navy" featurette; theatrical trailers; more.

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Derek Luke	Antwone Fisher
Joy Bryant	Cheryl Smolley
Denzel Washington	Dr. Jerome Davenport
Salli Richardson	Berta
Earl Billings	James
Kevin Connolly	Slim
Viola Davis	Eva
Rainoldo Gooding	Grayson
Novella Nelson	Mrs. Tate
Yolonda Ross	Elaine Pack
Kente Scott	Kansas City
Stephen Snedden	Berkley
Eddie Baccus	Blind Piano Player
Bob Banks	Horace
Brandon Biggins	Eddie
Linda Cevallos	Sexy Woman
Lynne Charles	Spinoza's Wife
Michelle Davison	Johnny Mae
Jason Dixon	Jason
Fran Dorsey	Owner
O.L. Duke	Uncle Duke
Na'tasha Marie Evans	Young Girl #2
Margaret Ford-Taylor	Eda
David Fowler	Chief Master-At-Arms
Angela Gillespie-Winborn	Woman In White
Lissy Gulick	Mona
Cory Hodges	Antwone Fisher Age 14
Teresa Hoefke	Case Worker
Leonard Earl Howze	Pork Chop
Doug Jewell	Spinoza
Kim Johnson	Disc Jockey
Vernée Watson Johnson	Annette
Malcolm David Kelley	Antwone Fisher Age 7
Sean'e La'dae	Edward
Brandon Lewis	Ray
Jada S. Louie	Jeannette
Mary Bradley Marable	Older Lady
Rebecca Morris	Anna
Leo Nepomuceno	SP #1
Andreas Patton	Kenny
Rita Pearson	Cashier
John Pittman	Another Clerk
Timothy Reddick	Dwight Age 8
Edward C. Reynolds	Man
Janaya Reynolds	Young Girl #1
Charlie Robinson	Howard
Ruth Stehle	Snide Clerk
Cordell Stokes	Keith Age 5
Sung Kang	Receptionist
Jascha Washington	Jesse Age 8
Ellis Williams	Reverend Tate
De'Angelo Wilson	Jesse Age 19
Nicolas Dodd	Conductor

Technical Credits

Antwone Quenton Fisher

Denzel Washington	Director,Producer
Todd Black	Producer
Conrad Buff	Editor
Willie D. Burton	Sound Mixer
Keith Butler	Stunts
Chris Smith	Co-producer
Chris Smith	Co-producer
Nelson Coates	Production Designer
Melissa "Stanley" Cohen	Production Manager
Mychael Danna	Score Composer
Sharen Davis	Costumes/Costume Designer
Marvin Felton	Special Effects
Antwone Quenton Fisher	Co-producer,Screenwriter
Randy Fletcher	Asst. Director
Amrita-Diane Ford	Makeup
Carl Fullerton	Makeup
Brad Haehnel	Sound Mixer,Sound/Sound Designer
Randa Haines	Producer
Steven Kutcher	Consultant/advisor
David S. Lazan	Art Director
Kathy Madison	Makeup
Anne McCulley	Set Decoration/Design
Barbara Mesney	Set Decoration/Design
Gail Monian	Stunts
Neal Norton	Camera Operator
Nancy Paloian-Breznikar	Executive Producer
David Poole	Special Effects
Robert M. Powell	Stunts
Lillian Pyles	Casting
Robi Reed-Humes	Casting
Pamela Rittelmeyer	Camera Operator
Frank Rose	Costumes/Costume Designer
Philippe Rousselot	Cinematographer
Riki Sabusawa-Roach	Costumes/Costume Designer
Paul Sonski	Set Decoration/Design
Dain C. Turner	Stunts
Tom Waite	Stunts
Gina White	Associate Producer
Nadia Zogby	Makeup

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Antwone's Dream
2. Busted
3. The Psychiatrist
4. Cheryl
5. Nothing to Say
6. From Under a Rock
7. The Titles
8. Jesse
9. Feeling Powerful
10. Slipping Up
11. Meet Me at 1700
12. Dating Advice
13. The First Date
14. The Davenports' Problem
15. Touble in Mexico
16. Nadine
17. Davenport's Guest
18. Being Honest
19. Thanksgiving
20. Who Will Cry
21. Time to Move On
22. Losing Jesse
23. Two Tickets to Cleveland
24. Antwone's Lover
25. I'm Still Standing
26. Looking for My Family
27. Auntie Annette
28. The Elkins
29. Eva
30. Welcome to the Family
31. I Salute You
32. End Titles

Menu

Side #1 --
   Play
   Language Selection
      Language Selection: English 5.1 Dolby Surround
      Language Selection: Spanish 2.0 Dolby Stereo
      Language Selection: French 5.1 Dolby Surround
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary by Director Denzel Washington and Producer Todd Black: On
      Commentary by Director Denzel Washington and Producer Todd Black: Off
      Meeting Antwone Fisher
      The Making of Antwone Fisher
      Hollywood & the Navy
      Theatrical Trailers
         Le Divorce
         In America
         Master and Commander
         Drumline

Editorial Reviews

Denzel Washington’s powerful directorial debut offers a tale that is at once familiar and wholly original. Written by the real Antwone Fisher and based on his own life, the film opens at a Southern California naval base, where a young seaman’s hair-trigger temper has just landed him in trouble, and not for the first time. Fisher is placed in the care of a Navy psychotherapist, played with great warmth and depth by Washington, who guides him through a process of wrenching self-discovery, helping him identify and conquer the demons of his horrific childhood and guiding him toward the healing powers of home and family. Washington’s directing, like his acting, is rock-solid and unpretentious. He deftly avoids showiness and sentimentality in favor of straightforward storytelling that is all the more powerful for its directness and emotional honesty. The film treads well-worn ground, calling to mind Finding Forrester and Good Will Hunting, and usually in good ways. Yet the details of Fisher’s screenplay and the mesmerizing performances help make it a uniquely inspiring experience. Washington elicits wonderful work from his cast, particularly newcomers Derek Luke as the innately intelligent Fisher, Joy Bryant as his tender love interest, and veterans like Novella Nelson, who makes Fisher’s foster mother seem especially terrifying. In addition to a running commentary by Washington, the DVD features a fascinating interview with Fisher among other featurettes.

Barnes & Noble - David Sobel

Based on a true story, with a screenplay written by its protagonist, Denzel Washington's directorial debut, Antwone Fisher is a competent tearjerker and self-composed hagiography that's sure to be overpraised for its subtle near-avoidance of racial issues. Talented neophyte Derek Luke stars in the title role, and he's supported by a strong, attractive cast, including director Washington, stolid as he's ever been, as the shrink who helps Fisher come to terms with his past, and the luminous Joy Bryant as the angel of a woman who improbably throws herself at Fisher's feet. Her apparent beatitude is part of the problem with the film. We see the horrific, if overly familiar, privations of Fisher's early life in flashback, but in later life, as the film begins, things seem to fall a bit too quickly and conveniently into place for the young man as he seeks out and battles his demons. The film also risks misinterpretation by accepting the societal racism responsible for many of Fisher's woes as a given. The film doesn't address race directly as an issue in Antwone's life. Of course, more thoughtful viewers will understand that Antwone's oppressors (who are all black) are themselves the products of an internalized racism, but less-thoughtful white viewers may appreciate feeling like they've been let off the hook in this instance because there are no racist, or even unpleasant, white people depicted in the film. Whether or not it's screenwriter Fisher's and/or director Washington's responsibility to explicate the sociopathology of its black oppressors is an interesting question. The fact remains that the film, with its postcard vistas and overblown score, works as drama on only the most rudimentary level.

All Movie Guide - Josh Ralske

Induces the sort of catharsis that leaves you feeling released, enlightened and in deeper touch with humanity. Stephen Holden

New York Times

1/2
A film that begins with the everyday lives of naval personnel in San Diego and ends with scenes so true and heartbreaking that tears welled up in my eyes both times I saw the film. Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

A fine film that proves the past is never too bleak -- or the future too hopeless -- to discover a productive new life, and a home and family to share it. Rex Reed

New York Observer

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