Wonderful character development!

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Blistering performances.

I rarely give any film any rating above a "7", so for me to give this film a "9" says a lot.This is a truly exceptional film. Exceptional first because it was written by the man who lived it -- Antwone Fisher. Exceptional second because of the direction provided by Denzel Washington (I'd go so far as to say his crowning achievement). Exceptional third because of the remarkable performance of Derek Luke (in fact, if there's a downside to this film, it's that I doubt that Mr. Luke will ever turn in a better performance than this; that's inconceivable...and remarkable since this was his very first screen role.The story is heart rending. A young sailor has anger issues that are threatening his naval career. He is ordered to see a Navy shrink (Denzel Washington). Although not a smooth relationship, the two form a bond and Fisher is urged to seek out his real family (he was born out of wedlock to a woman in a penal institution and his father was killed the same year; he went into the foster care system (another tragedy); lived on the street for a while; and finally went into the Navy). The ending of the film is about as uplifting as any film could be...but that's only after a very difficult reunion with his mother.As I said, Derek Luke's performance is stunning. Denzel Washington is very believable as a Naval psychiatrist, although the main credits for Washington here go for his acting. Joy Bryant is very good as Luke's girlfriend. Viola Davis's brief role as Luke's mother is remarkable.Really, for pure drama, this is an absolutely top notch film...and it's a true story.

After awhile, you forget that the folks you're watching are black. Antwone Fisher presents Black Americans as middle-class and ordinary. You don't have to think "This is a black movie" at all. It's a fine example of vision and leadership by all involved, including its director Denzel Washington.Washington's Antwone Fisher is so good that you're effortlessly pulled into the story of a young sailor who is tortured by his horrendous childhood without the slightest fuss. Washington's direction is pure, workmanlike getterdone. You'd swear Clint Eastwood was behind the camera. Not a bad comparison for a first directorial effort, huh? You can read the other comments to get a more in-depth synopsis; I don't care to recount it here. Simply accept that Washington delivers the story without schmaltz or scenery-chewing. There's such a natural feeling to AF that the suspension-of-disbelief disconnect that one feels for awhile in most movies is missing here.I even enjoyed the way the US Navy was portrayed--a fighting force that will invest in the health and well-being of one of its members by sending this angry and miserable young man to a shrink instead of just to the brig.The greatest strength of Antwone Fisher is its attention to, its homage to human decency.

I just watched Antwone Fisher on BRAVO. What an awesome movie and incredible young man. This movie is a must see for anyone who is dealing with how to overcome childhood abuse and abandonment as an adult. Denzel Washington puts in an outstanding performance as well as the young man who plays Antwone Fisher. Kleenex alert--Feel good and tearful. The most heartrending moment is when he finally meets his mother, who he was taken away from at 2 months of age. And one of the most courageous was when he stood up to his abusive foster mother and sister. I saw this movie on Bravo in 2008 and only wish I had known about it years ago. Definitely a movie to add to my DVD collection.

I ask because I recall when the film was released over four years ago,I seemed to remember that while I was curious about a film that is written by the hero of the story and was pitched as sort of a labor of love,made then into a big-budget Hollywood movie. The ads seemed to tell only a sparse amount of meaty detail of the film,suggesting a sort of "rags-to-riches" or "up from bootstraps" story but not giving much away. After finally getting around to watching this,I now am FULLY aware of why this film was pushed the way it was:basically,there was no choice by the producers or 20th Century Fox,because the story of Antwone Quentin Fisher(played with quiet,almost too quiet,grace and dignity by Derek Luke)is one of great pain and loneliness that cannot be conveyed by a thirty-second movie trailer. To be sure,there's also a very heartening story of success that arises from the film,but in order to get to that,you the viewer need to know WHY this young man's emergence is so special.We meet Fisher as a troubled but basically unassuming and upright young sailor whose been assigned to counseling for striking another sailor,a white one who had mouthed off at him. The therapist he's assigned to,DAvenport(Denzel Washington,also the director)is a no-nonsense guy who understands that Fisher isn't going to open right away,and instead opts to wait him out. Eventually,Antwone little by little opens up about his past(the orphanages,the foster home,the few friends and family he had before the NAvy,etc.)and his present,namely,his interest in a pretty sailor named Cheryl(Joy Bryant,radiant!),and discovers,through both DAvenport,Cheryl and himself,Antwone goes about piecing his life back together to reach some sense of peace,acceptance and even forgiveness.This is another tough film to market(like the Kevin Kline film where he's a headmaster at an exclusive boys' school through three decades,the name of which as you can see escapes me),mainly because it is neither sexy nor sensational,not particularly violent(save a few scenes)and reaches its denouement through very personal,almost cultural means. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say that many people(myself included)have often wondered what it would be like to pen a story of/around their lives and have it made into a major motion picture. After watching the remarkable story of young Antwone Fisher,I kinda feel like he EARNED his right to fill up two hours of screen time,and director/co-star Washington,the producers and cast of this show do that story plenty of justice. Antwone can be proud of many accomplishments,this one of them.