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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Antwone Fisher

EMAILPRINTFox Searchlight Pictures

Antwone Fisher reviews
62
8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 32 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 46 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Antwone Fisher

Directed by: Denzel Washington

Release Date:
Theatrical: December 19, 2002
DVD: May 20, 2003

Running Time: 113 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

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

Starring Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson, Earl Billings, Kevin Connolly, Viola Davis, and Rainoldo Gooding

The story of a man who digs inside himself to discover therein lies a king...A sailor with an explosive attitude, Fisher (Luke) is ordered to see a naval psychiatrist (Washington) about his volatile temper. Little did he know that his first step into the doctor's office would lead him on a journey home. (Fox Searchlight)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

A deceptively simple movie with a deeply felt message.

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88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Antwone Fisher has a confrontation with his past, and a speech to the mother who abandoned him, and a reunion with his family, that create great, heartbreaking, joyous moments.

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88

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Emotionally honest, feel-good saga with a universality that stands out in a season of singularly depressing and cynical Hollywood product.

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88

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

Washington, typically, is rock-solid in front of the camera, conveying ample warmth and sympathy. Behind the camera, he's a relatively straightforward storyteller, strategic in his use of lyrical touches.

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83

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Washington brings it off with an unforced and well-earned emotional wallop, and whose strong hand, keen eye, sweet spirit and good taste are reflected in almost every scene.

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80

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

The film offers an impressive melding of quietly radical images and ideas with, yes, an old-fashioned, crowd-pleasing holiday tearjerker.

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80

Washington Post Desson Thomson

An assured directorial debut that goes straight for the tear ducts.

80

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Blessedly free of the self-righteous histrionics and sentimentality that so often cheapen powerful personal stories.

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75

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Corny. But it's corny in a way that a Hollywood movie about a boy who just wants to go home ought to be corny. Plus when it's done with this much care, corny works for me.

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75

ReelViews James Berardinelli

There are a few occasions when Antwone Fisher crosses the line to become too syrupy -- For the most part, however, the production radiates emotional honesty.

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75

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

The rare sort of movie that gives predictability a good name.

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75

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

The uniformly fine performances are a tribute to Washington, who plays the shrink with his customary command.

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75

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

A good film that, with a little extra care, could have been great.

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75

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Intense but dignified.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Rarest and most impressive of all, Antwone Fisher is a serious drama set in the African American community, one that showcases powerful, confrontational scenes between black actors.

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70

The New York Times Stephen Holden

A movie so profoundly in touch with its own feelings that it transcends its formulaic tics.

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67

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

If treats like this are evidence of Washington's special gifts as a filmmaker, Antwone Fisher promises great things for the future.

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67

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

With all its pedestrian moments, the film still has the power to sweep you up.

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63

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

A safety-first, tried-and-true inspirational story that stays the course right down to its "It's a Wonderful Life" ending.

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60

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Denzel Washington's directorial debut reminds me of a 60s British movie called "The Mark": it's liberal minded, heartwarming, sincere, and consequently somewhat old-fashioned and stodgy.

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60

Variety Eddie Cockrell

Washington reveals himself to be a filmmaker with a clean, uncluttered storytelling style. Too often, overtly inspirational material such as this can become strident or mawkish.

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60

TV Guide Steve Simels

But there's a vaguely self-congratulatory tone to the screenplay that's a bit off-putting.

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60

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Affecting but formulaic.

60

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

Should be remembered for a pair of performers -- Derek Luke and Viola Davis, whose cameo as the mother who abandoned him cuts through the sap like an acetylene torch.

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50

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

This is the brand of sentimentality that comes with a high concentration of saccharine and every taste of bitterness safely removed.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Has warmth and integrity, but it lacks the urgency of a story that had to be told.

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50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Although it's touching and sincere, Washington's directorial debut is weakened by a too-slow pace and a story that offers few real surprises.

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50

Salon.com Charles Taylor

There's nothing in either the conception or execution to lift it above a TV-movie tear-jerker.

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50

Dallas Observer Luke Y. Thompson

In the hands of lesser mortals, this would add up to perhaps the worst movie of the year. In the hands of Denzel Washington, it manages to work magic on some who might not tolerate such shenanigans from, say, Chris Columbus.

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50

Film Threat Rick Kisonak

A competently calibrated feel-good machine. It's as effective as anything on The Lifetime Channel. Which is likely where this project would have wound up were it not for the involvement of Washington.

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30

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Washington directs with proficient blandness charged only occasionally by organic acting moments.

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20

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Directed without a shred of imagination by Denzel Washington -- Antwone Fisher masks a behind-the-scenes story that's far more inspiring than the phony uplift that makes it onto the screen.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 46 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tim J. gave it a10:
This movie was amazing.

Ff w. gave it a9:
Excellent movie...inspirational...especially at the conclusion.

Livi K. gave it a9:
I great movie, about finding yourself though others. And changing your view on life.

Pat C. gave it a9:
Slightly claustrophobic, but otherwise a real gem. It is always a pleasure to watch a briskly-presented and intelligent film.

Carl W. gave it a 9:
Unfortunately emotional films are branded as claptrap today. If you enjoy honest emotion and have tired of coming away form a movie feeling like you need an immediate shower you should enjoy this.

K. David gave it a 7:
What I don't understand is that the real life story took place back in the sixties but the movie shows that it took place back in the eighties to early nineties. Y was that?

B. B. gave it a 0:
The movie was very blah!!!!!! the movie sucked and i'd never want to see another movie like it.

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