Antwone Fisher (2002)
86%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 19 wins & 22 nominations
Washington’s directing debut is a solidly crafted, emotionally touching work
Antwone Fisher is a movie that will make you cry, but not because it’s a tearjerker. No, it’s because you’ll be so bored that your eyes will water just to keep themselves entertained. The acting is so wooden that you’ll be checking for termites, and the directing is so uninspired that you’ll be begging for a spark of creativity. But hey, at least it covers no new ground that other psychiatrist/patient films haven’t gone before, right?
Production Company(ies)
Participant Willi Hill Killer Content
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, San Diego, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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Language(s):English, Japanese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 20, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Earl Billings, Kevin Connolly, directed by Denzel Washington, written by Antwone Fisher, drama, PG-13, box office performance, $21.1M, reviewed by Barbara Ellen, Nell Minow, Sara Michelle Fetters, Glenn Kenny, Nev Pierce, Rex Reed, David Walsh, Kevin Carr, Eric D Snider, Peter Canavese, Mark Halverson, Antwone Fisher, naval psychiatrist, sailor, violent outbursts, childhood trauma, family, therapy, emotional, touching, Todd Black, Randa Haines, Fox, Surround, Dolby Digital, English
Worldwide gross: $23,367,586
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $37,875,860
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,461
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,130,410
US/Canada gross: $21,078,145
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $34,164,970
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,229
US/Canada opening weekend: $210,013
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $340,404
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,502
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,260,897
Production budget ranking: 1,359
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $10,910,493
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,704,470
ROI to date (est.): 22%
ROI ranking: 1,289
Joy Bryant – Cheryl
Denzel Washington – Jerome Davenport
Salli Richardson-Whitfield – Berta Davenport
Earl Billings – James
Kevin Connolly – Slim
Antwone Fisher – Writer
Denzel Washington – Director
Todd Black – Producer
Randa Haines – Producer
Fox – Distributor
Director(s)
Denzel Washington
Writer(s)
Antwone Fisher
Producer(s)
Todd Black, Randa Haines, Denzel Washington
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
19 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (150) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (117) | Rotten (33)
There is such a thing as under-acting to a point where you exude the charisma of a plant pot. The directing goes the same way, plodding along conscientiously but without any spark — one can sense the cameras splintering out of sheer boredom.
January 2, 2018
Barbara Ellen
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Devastating story of abuse based on real life.
December 21, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Washington makes his directorial debut with Antwone Fisher, a fact-based biography that deftly pulls the heartstrings. Granted, it covers no new ground that other psychiatrist/patient films haven’t gone before.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
When the tears start coming, they’re not jerked from you — they’re honestly earned, and they’re a both a relief and, yes, an affirmation.
March 4, 2003 | Rating: 4/4
Glenn Kenny
Premiere Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A mind-numbing, soul-deadeningly dull experience, it is a miracle of mediocrity, a small wonder: how can anything be quite this tedious?
March 4, 2003 | Rating: 1/5
Nev Pierce
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 16, 2003
Rex Reed
Observer
TOP CRITIC
A number of American films in recent years have essentially argued not merely for an individual solution to a patently social problem, but that one must make one’s way and leave the others … behind and the existing order unchallenged.
February 16, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
a very powerful drama that doesn’t just tug at the heartstrings, but yanks them hard
January 10, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Carr
Fat Guys at the Movies
July 2, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Eric D. Snider
eFilmCritic.com
Rings false, belittling instead of honoring its sensitive subject with its twinkly score, kid-glove nobility and cloying payoffs. [Blu-ray]
February 1, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
It is to Washington’s credit that he keeps it just real enough to move our hearts and our heads.
December 6, 2004 | Rating: B
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer…
Plot
A sailor prone to violent outbursts 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. Through the guidance of his doctor, he confronts his painful past and begins a quest to find the family he never knew.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Antwone Fisher.
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