This is a very touching film that made me cry out of its goodness. At the end, an older couple was so moved they hugged and cried in each other's arms.
Antwone Fisher
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Devastating story of abuse based on real life.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–14
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Antwone Fisher was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie deals frankly, if not graphically, with severe child abuse, including sexual abuse. Characters use strong language, including the "N" word (used by African-Americans) and a gay slur. Fisher is justifiably proud of himself for not drinking, using drugs, or having promiscuous sex.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about what kept Fisher strong through all of the abuse. How did he have enough of a sense of himself to resist becoming a criminal, a drug user, or an abuser? Families can also discuss the theme of forgiveness, the ability "to regard without ill will despite an offence." Why is forgiveness more important for the person doing the forgiving than for the person being forgiven? Talk about Fisher's saying that he was ashamed for being unwanted, and the importance of forgiving those who do not appreciate us as a way of appreciating ourselves.
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More on Antwone Fisher
What’s the Story?
When sailor Antwone Fisher (Derek Luke) is sent for a psychiatric evaluation to Dr. Davenport (director Denzel Washington) for getting into fights, he refuses to talk. But Davenport insists that he sit in his office until he does. Finally, Fisher starts to tell Davenport his story of devastating neglect and abuse. And as he does, he finds himself opening up in other ways, even going on his very first date. Davenport goes outside the Navy rules to continue to provide Fisher with therapy that turns into a real friendship that changes both their lives. He encourages Fisher to try to connect with his family so that he can understand his story better. Fisher confronts his abusive foster mother, meets the mother who abandoned him, and finds the family of the father who died before he was born.
Is It Any Good?
Therapy films usually follow the same pattern as romance films, a sort of one-sided romance of the subjects with themselves. In other words, it's therapist meets patient, therapist loses patient, then therapist gets patient to open up with a big revelation to begin to heal. But Antwone Fisher, a true story written by its subject, the journey inside himself is just the beginning. The story is not what goes on in his conversations with the doctor, but where that takes him.
At first, the fact that this movie does not follow the usual pattern can feel disconcerting, even amateurish. There is an obvious tension between what is important to Fisher the person and what works on screen. Ultimately it gives the movie a kind of messiness and heart that provides some extra authenticity. Washington does very well with his first directing job, especially with Luke and model Joy Bryant as Fisher's girlfriend in their first major roles. And as Dr. Davenport, Washington's grace, dignity, sheer magnetism and ability to convey a complete character with every gesture are enough to carry the entire movie.
Movie Details
Studio: Fox Searchlight, Director: Denzel Washington
Run time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/10/2002, DVD release: 05/20/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse
Run time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/10/2002, DVD release: 05/20/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, language and mature thematic material involving child abuse
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
emotionally powerful
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I rate this title pause for age 13 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 13 and give it
coming of age story but for MATURE teenages only
this movie is incredibly inspiring, but the child abuse scenes are so disturbing that I am still haunted by it 5 months after seeing it in theatres.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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