Antwone Fisher (2002)

Antwone Fisher, a young navy man, is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. During the course of treatment a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins.

Director:

Denzel Washington

Writer:

Antwone Fisher

Stars:

Derek Luke, Malcolm David Kelley, Denzel Washington

18 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Derek Luke	...	Antwone Quenton 'Fish' Fisher
Malcolm David Kelley	...	Antwone Fisher Age 7
Cory Hodges	...	Antwone Fisher Age 14
Denzel Washington	...	Dr. Jerome Davenport
Joy Bryant	...	Cheryl Smolley
Salli Richardson-Whitfield	...	Berta Davenport (as Salli Richardson)
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Pork Chop
Kente Scott	...	Kansas City (as Kenté Scott)
Kevin Connolly	...	Slim
Rainoldo Gooding	...	Grayson
Novella Nelson	...	Mrs. Tate
Stephen Snedden	...	Berkley
Leo Nepomuceno	...	SP #1
Sung Kang	...	Receptionist
Cordell Stokes	...	Keith Age 5

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | sailor | navy | black american | anger | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by a true story.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse

Details

Official Sites:

Fox [fr] Fox [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Finding Fish

Filming Locations:

Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, San Diego, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£59,976 (UK) (16 May 2003)

Gross:

£59,976 (UK) (16 May 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Mundy Lane Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Derek Luke was working at the Sony Studios gift shop when he met Antwone Fisher who was working on the lot as a security guard. When Fisher's screenplay was bought by Fox Searchlight, Luke asked Fisher for a copy of the script. He went to the casting director unannounced and asked to audition. He has since admitted "I was so terrible I started crying" but Luke was invited to audition again. Denzel Washington came to the gift shop to tell Luke that he got the part.

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Goofs

In the bedroom, after Thanksgiving dinner, Berta Davenport takes off her necklace twice.

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Quotes

Jerome Davenport: Where'd you spend your childhood?
Antwone Fisher: Cleveland.
Jerome Davenport: Parents still live there?
Antwone Fisher: I never had any parents.
Jerome Davenport: They deceased?
Antwone Fisher: I never - I never had parents.
Jerome Davenport: That would make you a medical miracle, Seaman Fisher. Where you from?
Antwone Fisher: I'm from under a rock.
[pause]
Jerome Davenport: Okay!

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to Commander, Navy Region Southwest; Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Navy ships USS Tarawa (LHA-1), USS Belleauwood (LHA-3), USS Nimitz (CVN-68), USS Constellation (CV-64) USS Peleliu (LHA-5).

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Connections

Referenced in IMDb's 20th Anniversary Star of the Day: Dulé Hill (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Miss Mary Mack"
Traditional

User Reviews

A moving story for adoptees

I was adopted at birth and certainly did NOT have the problems Antwone fisher had in the movie, but I still share some of the emotions and this movie really helped to bring them out and force me to deal with them. It even caused me to realize that I do have a "missing piece" and I am going to seek out my birthparents now.

I cried for almost a day after I saw this the first time. Antwone's confrontation with his birthmother juxtaposed with his father's family's reaction to his sudden appearance are powerful for those of us who don't know what will happen if we find our birth parents. And his self-confidence and self affirmations to his mother and against the abusers of his past were so powerful. I could really identify with this and my need to tell people "yeah, I was put aside by my parents when I was born. BUT another set of parents picked me up and loved me. And now I am a success!"

It also helped my wife understand me and our adopted children, who did go through tragic experiences before they came to our home. And it helped me to realize just how messed up our social system is. If you remember reading the story last year about the foster kid in Florida who was "lost" AND then the "Miranda & Ashley" story in Oregon City where SCF ignored multiple sexual abuse complaints about the man who ultimately killed them AND the week this movie was released, yet another story in New Jersey of three kids who were ignored by the system. One died. The state apparently thought the home they were in was ok because the guardian was employed (as a stripper) and "only occasionally" used heroin!

There are just so many issues that are brought out in this movie - and they are dealt with so well by the script and by the acting that Antwone Fisher should be a "Best Picture" nominee for sure. No matter if you are adopted or not, it is a heart-tugger that can't be ignored by anyone concerned about children in our society.