ViewGuide

Created Jun 20, 2011 09:13AM PST • Edited Jun 20, 2011 09:13AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Denzel Washington stars as a Navy psychologist who tries to help a young sailor in Antwone Fisher. Derek Luke stars as the title character as a young man who is continuously violent while onboard his ship, suffering from deep emotional trauma suffered as a foster child. Washington plays Dr. Jerome Davenport, a seasoned Naval Officer who tries to help Fisher sort through his anger, and resolve some of his mixed emotions.

   The movie is based on a true story, and is written and co-produced by Antwone Fisher himself. While it certainly is a powerful film in terms of raw human emotions, it tends to play on those emotions a bit too much for my liking. The journey through mental health rehabilitation can be a long and arduous process, and trying to capture all of the nuances of that journey can be numbing for those watching a two-hour movie. No child should ever have to endure what Fisher did while growing up. But, that doesn’t mean it can always translate into an enjoyable movie. On the contrary, I found this film to be difficult and disturbing at times, wanting me to draw out Fishers problems and get them on the table, rather than have them always bottled up.

   Regardless, it was a nice effort from writer Fisher, and a decent directorial job by the popular Washington. Whether Fisher can come up with material outside of his own personal life story as a writer remains to be seen.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Derek Luke was solid, although not remarkable, as Fisher, paturing his anger and vulnerability.

   Denzel Washington played the stern therpaist trying to help the young sailor. Not that much of a different role for Denzel from his stern coaching role in Remember the Titans.

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

   Joy Bryant plays Cheryl, Fishers new love interest. A beautiful young woman, her character is never fully developed to my liking.

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

   Novella Nelson is great in creating the wicked foster mother who abuses Fisher. Very good acting.

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

    Denzel does an ok job directing this film. Nothing spectacular, but his use of shipboard shots helps keep the setting ture.

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

    Moved a little too slow for my liking.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

17. Sex Titillating 2.2

    No nudity, but sounds and implication of child molestation along with discussions of losing virginity.

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

    Harsh child abuse scenes. Scenes of fighting between adults, and a shooting.

19. Rudeness Profane 2.7

    Lots of use of the “n” word

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

    I’m rating this as “glib” only because I am assuming that Hollywood cranked up some of the story for entertainment purposes.

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0