Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher

Antwone Fisher is a skilled sailor with an extremely short fuse, which eventually leads him to the office of Dr. Jerome Davenport, a psychiatrist who works at the base. He’s not willing to talk. Davenport says he can wait. They’re required to have three sessions of therapy by naval regulations, and until Antwone speaks, they don’t start the first session. So every week that passes by, it’s just paperwork for the doctor while Antwone sits there until finally they converse: “I know you like to fight.” “Some people only learn that way.”

“But you pay for teaching them.” This conversation will continue in one form or another till Fisher (Derek Luke) has returned to the source of his problems and Davenport (Denzel Washington) has made some discoveries of his own. “Antwone Fisher,” based on the true story of the man who wrote the screenplay, is 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.

I am not much given to crying at movies; years may pass between tears. I have observed that when I am deeply moved, it usually does it not by sadness but by goodness. The past catches up with Antwone Fisher; he makes a speech to his mother who abandoned him; he finds his family again these are great moments that make us shudder with joy.

The story behind this movie is so extraordinary! When Fisher’s script was discovered by producers at Sony Pictures Entertainment where he worked as a security guard during their search for fresh material; Denzel Washington became attached after being impressed with what he read choosing it as his directorial debut because he felt such strong connection towards both men portrayed within this tale about love overcoming all odds involving oneself against society’s expectation where friendship blossoms amid hardships encountered while battling against personal demons faced by individuals living under different circumstances despite sharing common ground through experiences shaped by life’s twist and turns among other themes explored throughout the film.

Newcomer Derek Luke was cast in the role of Antwone Fisher after numerous auditions had been carried out with more experienced actors; it turned out that he knew him from before but never mentioned anything about their acquaintance fearing that might jeopardize his chances of landing this part.

As indicated at the end, although some fictional elements were introduced for dramatic purposes, majority characters depicted were based on real people met along Fisher’s journey therefore adding weight to each scenario presented thereby making it resonate much deeper within viewers’ hearts who can relate due to having gone through similar situations themselves or knowing someone close who did undergo such trials too.

The movie starts off with a dream sequence which will haunt us till the last frame fades away: young Antwone is welcomed to dinner table by all members representing different generations past as well present times in his life; waking up aboard an aircraft carrier gives him another perspective about reality.

His father got killed two months prior to birth during period when mother served time behind bars eventually abandoning him shortly thereafter leaving behind only memories tainted by cruelty fostered upon innocent child like himself who deserved none thereof following which further tragedy struck when best friend lost life during armed robbery prompting feelings betrayal considering inability commit crime ownself thus viewing act committed against dear one also being forsakenness.

During weekly appointments with Davenport, Antwone meets Cheryl Smolley (Joy Bryant), a fellow seaman around same age as himself. He feels nervous whenever she’s near, so he asks Davenport for dating advice without letting slip that he hasn’t yet had sex. At a time when most movie romances conclude with couple hopping into bed somewhere within next scene or two, their relationship remains simple and pure. Troubled though he may be even getting into another fight later on, she recognizes goodness within him which prompts her belief in his ability to change for better.

Davenport disagrees with the boy and says that all his difficulties boil down to one thing: he must confront his past. He has to go back to Ohio and try to find some relatives, needs closure. Fisher does not obey these orders at first but, still, with Cheryl’s assistance, flies back. And here is where the early scenes pay off in confrontations of stunning intensity.

I will cite three performances from this part of the film that I found outstanding, without going into detail about what happens: Vernee Watson-Johnson as Antwone’s aunt; Earl Billings as Antwone’s uncle; and Viola Davis as Antwone’s mother. Earlier this year we saw Davis as the maid in “Far from Heaven” and the space-station psychiatrist in “Solaris.” Now this. It is hard to believe it is the same actress. She hardly speaks at all while Antwone pours out his heart in a speech of shattering emotional impact.

Antwone’s story is counterpointed by that of Dr. Davenport and his wife, Berta (Salli Richardson). They have their own pasts, too; and in a way Davenport and Fisher are helping each other through therapy.

There is an anticlimax when Davenport has his final talk with Antwone because after Ohio the movie has made its emotional statement and there is nowhere else we want it to take us. But the relationship between these two men has been directed by Washington with close attention and great care for every detail. Hard to believe Derek Luke is making his film debut; easy to believe why Washington cast him as Antwone Fisher.

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