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ANTWONE
FISHER
This
use of race as power is appalling in any case, but when it is done
by one's own community and people, it can serve to be doubly harmful.
The film reminds us that racism is a systemic sin that infects our
entire culture.
Review by Darrel
Manson and Antwone Fisher
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CREDITS
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 Directed
by Denzel Washington
Story
and Screenplay by Antwone Fisher
Derek Luke .... Antwone Fisher
Joy Bryant .... Cheryl Smolley
Denzel Washington .... Jerome Davenport
Salli Richardson .... Berta
Earl Billings .... James
Kevin Connolly .... Slim
Viola Davis .... Eva
Rainoldo Gooding .... Rashon Grayson
Novella Nelson .... Mrs. Tate
Yolonda Ross .... Nadine
Kente Scott .... Kansas City
Stephen Snedden .... Berkley
Produced by
Todd Black .... producer
Antwone Fisher .... co-producer
Randa Haines .... producer
Nancy Paloian .... executive producer
Chris Smith .... co-producer
Denzel Washington .... producer
Original Music by Mychael Danna
Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot
Film Editing by Conrad Buff
Casting by Robi Reed-Humes
Production Design by Nelson Coates
Art Direction by David Lazan
Set Decoration by Anne D. McCulley
Costume Design by Sharen Davis
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child
abuse)
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM,
and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
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TRAILERS
AND CLIPS
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CD
SOUNDTRACK
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Antwone
Fisher (Score)
Mychael Danna
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1. Antwone's
Dream/Fight
2. Lock Yourself Up
3. Basement Beating
4. Grasshoppers
5. I Don't Know What To Do
6. Ship Departs
7. Antwone Remembers Nadine
8. Antwone And Nadine
9. First Kiss
10. Who Will Cry
11. Our Sessions Have Ended
12. Going To Cleveland
13. Finding Mae Mae
14. Daddy's Baby Sister
15. Mom & New Family
16. Rocked To The Core |
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POSTER
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Antwone Fisher
27 in x 40 in
Original Poster plain, or
Framed | Mounted |
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BOOK
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 Finding
Fish: A Memoir
by Antwone Quenton Fisher,
Mim Eichler Rivas (Contributor)
Thank goodness Antwone Fisher's story has a happy ending--otherwise,
his searing memoir would be nearly unbearable to read. His father
was killed by a gunshot blast shortly before he was born in 1959;
his 17-year-old mother gave him up for foster care. Unfortunately
for Antwone, his foster mother was as successful at browbeating and
demeaning her many wards as she was at lying to the Child Welfare
authorities. His working-class African American neighborhood in Cleveland
became purgatory for a sensitive, intelligent boy who quickly turned
into a withdrawn underperformer at school. In Fisher's blow-by-blow
account of his childhood, his sexual abuse at the hands of a female
neighbor is hardly more horrifying than his foster mother's relentless
cruelty--especially because respectable, churchgoing Mrs. Pickett
justifies it all as due to the boy's wicked faults. Readers will be
relieved when she dumps 15-year-old Antwone back at the Child Welfare
office, even though he will endure homelessness and a scary spell
of criminal employment, before an 11-year stint in the Navy provides
him with a way forward. Grim though his tale is, Fisher displays throughout
it the grit and stubborn integrity that kept him sane. He musters
up some understanding (not forgiveness) for the dreadful Mrs. Pickett,
and his eventual meeting with his burned-out mother is painfully poignant.
He certainly deserves the beautiful wife and cute two-year-old daughter,
cooking pancakes for him in the book's closing and redemptive scene.
--Wendy Smith
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AVAILABILITY
ON VIDEO AND DVD
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SYNOPSIS
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 "Antwone
Fisher" is the story of a man who digs inside himself to discover
therein lies a king... A sailor with an explosive attitude, Fisher
(Derek Luke) is ordered to see a naval psychiatrist (Denzel 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. With
the support of the doctor, who becomes more like a father than anyone
Fisher has ever known, and the woman (Joy Bryant) from whom he learns
how to love, Fisher finds the courage to stop fighting and start healing.
Only then can he call on the family he never knew and come to terms
with the one he knew all too well. |
REVIEW
By DARREL MANSON
Pastor,
Artesia Christian Church, Artesia, CA
http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch01198
Darrel
has an incredible love and interest in the cinematic arts. His reviews
usually include independent and significantly important film.
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 Antwone
Fisher (the person) is in many ways a miracle in the flesh. He was
beaten down verbally and physically by those to whom he was entrusted.
In some ways he beat himself down. He was abandoned by everyone who
should have loved him. And yet, he was able to overcome all of this
to succeed in life, and now to share his story as an inspiration to
others.
Antwone Fisher (the film) has its flaws. (I expect the person does
as well.) But in spite of the flaws it still manages to inspire and
instruct. After watching the movie, I started listing all the things
that didn't quite work, but even with that, I enjoyed and applaud
the film.
I've read Antwone Fishers comments posted here, and wish to offer
a little bit different perspective. My life has been very different
from his. Because of that, as I watched the film, I probably reacted
to what I saw differently from how he did. I don't offer my commentary
in rebuttal to his words, but in addition.
 One
of the things that struck me in the film was the racism Antwone had
to deal with. Usually we think of racism as something whites impose
on people of color. But we don't see that racism in the film. Instead,
we see the abuse that derives racism within the African-American community.
A bigoted white person could be scarcely more racist and hateful than
Antoine's foster mother, Mrs. Tate. This use of race as power is appalling
in any case, but when it is done by one's own community and people,
it can serve to be doubly harmful. The film reminds us that racism
is a systemic sin that infects our entire culture.
 The
main message I took from the film was not what a miraculous person
Antwone Fisher is. To be sure, he deserves great credit for the success
and the life he has found. But as I watched the film, I noted all
the ways that he wasn't able to do this on his own. He needed the
help of Dr. Davenport. He needed his girlfriend to go with him to
Cleveland to look for his family. And eventually, he is completed,
not just because he finds himself, but because he finds and becomes
family.
 It
is the connectedness as much as his own strength and determination
that led to Antwone finding peace within himself. I think that is
what he is referring to in his review when he speaks of those who
encouraged him. That connectedness -- that sense of community -- is
certainly important for children and adults alike to maximize their
potentials. I'm glad that Antoine's story is not just about someone
who pulled himself up by the bootstraps. It teaches us that we all
have to rely on others. And we all have responsibilities to others
who may well be relying on us. |
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REVIEW
By Antwone Fisher
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Who
will cry for the little boy, lost and all alone?
Who will cry for the little boy, abandoned without his own?
Who will cry for the little boy? He cried himself to sleep.
Who will cry for the little boy? He never had for keeps.
Who will cry for the little boy? He walked the burning sand.
Who will cry for the little boy? The boy inside the man.
Who will cry for the little boy? Who knows well hurt and pain.
Who will cry for the little boy? He died and died again.
Who will cry for the little boy? A good boy he tried to be.
Who will cry for the little boy, who cries inside of me?
 Initially
I wanted to tell my story because the opportunity presented itself
and I was told that I could not do it, meaning that I did not have
the aptitude to write. It reminded me of how I was always told as
a child that I was worthless and that I would never accomplish anything
in life - words that still haunt me. I became determined to write
my story simply because I was told that I couldn't. Then, I discovered
that it was cathartic and cleansing for me to write about my life.
I felt free, free from what felt like secrets...free from the responsibility
of such unhealthy shame.
Having
my story told gives me faith and encouragement and reminds me that
there are good and unselfish people in the world; people who would
help an absolute stranger by giving him the tools to pull himself
up, giving him the chance to benefit society. Despite the unfortunate
circumstances of my life, there is hope.
 How
peculiar and blue that those words, "You ain't nothing. You
ain't never gonna' be nothing, `cause you come from nothing"
made for a fervent fuel that gave me strength and the courage to
persevere. But there is more to it than that. At the age of 17 when
I was homeless, all I had were my thoughts and the comfort of pretending
that my situation would improve. I would think to myself, `something
good is about to happen.' I learned to convince myself of seemingly
impossible things. Sometimes they would work out, sometimes they
wouldn't, but I remained optimistic long before I knew the meaning
of the word. It was that optimism coupled with my fear of failure
that allowed me to hang in there for the nine years it took to bring
this film to life.
 When
I saw the film for the first time, I was overwhelmed by a mixture
of feelings: fear, joy, pride and satisfaction - all of which still
linger, and I am certain they will for the rest of my life. I hope
others, too, walk away with those same feelings and the courage
to do something to better the lives of children in general. I hope
that after seeing the movie and reading my memoir that people will
see that every child has value and boundless potential and that
even if all one has to give is an encouraging word as a genuine
gesture of care...that gift alone can save a child's life and give
hope for the future.
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PHOTOS
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CONTINUE:
Review -click here
Trailers, Photos -click here
About this Film -click here
Spiritual Connections -click
here
Forum -click
here |
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COMMENT
ON THIS FILM
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BULLETIN
BOARD (Rules)
Post
your thoughts in the forum
View or post comments -click
here.
Your
Private Comments.
I will not post these comments.
What are your personal thoughts? I also welcome your spiritual
concerns and prayer needs. I will correspond with you, usually
within two weeks.
Click here
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OFFICIAL
SITE
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Fisher © 2002 Fox. All Rights
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