Denzel gives an old formula fresh energy in 'Antwone Fisher'

Wednesday, December 25, 2002

By WILLIAM ARNOLD
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER MOVIE CRITIC

It's hardly a new story: the one about the wounded character who, through professional help and true love, triumphs over the legacy of an abusive childhood. That's pretty much the basic formula of what critics snidely call your "Oprah Book Club Movie."

MOVIE REVIEW

ANTWONE FISHER

DIRECTOR: Denzel Washington

CAST: Denzel Washington, Derek Luke, Joy Bryant

RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes

RATING: PG-13 for child abuse scenes

WHERE: East Valley, Galleria, Pacific Place

GRADE: B+

But in the absorbing relationship drama "Antwone Fisher," the victim is a young black man, his oppressors are chiefly black women, the black community itself takes some lumps for its part in his tragedy and the whole weary formula gets a new jolt of creative juice.

The film also is noteworthy for marking the directorial debut of Denzel Washington, who 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.

The title character is an angry young San Diego-based U.S. sailor (Derek Luke) who, without much provocation, busts a fellow swabby in the jaw in the opening scene and is brought before a Navy psychiatrist (Washington) for an evaluation.


Derek Luke plays the title role in "Antwone Fisher," Denzel Washington's impressive directorial debut.

Antwone stubbornly refuses to cooperate with the shrink, but the good doctor sees something behind the hostile eyes, patiently breaks down his resistance and, in a series of sessions, begins to unwrap the layers of scar tissue to reveal the wounded inner child.

According to the film's publicity, it's more-or-less a true story, and the real Antwone Fisher (who receives full screenplay credit) was a security guard on the Sony lot who passed the first draft of his autobiographical script to Washington more than six years ago.

Washington reportedly had Fisher rewrite that script more than 70 times, and together they've fashioned it into a universal parable about the amazing reservoir of strength that can be tapped when a victim stops cursing his fate and starts taking responsibility for his life.

Washington-the-canny-actor was smart enough to grab for himself the smaller but steadier role of the Navy psychiatrist. They may give him Oscars for playing one-note villains, but -- like Tom Hanks -- he's at his best as a star playing a decent "average" man in small gestures, and he knows it.

But the big, pleasant surprise is Washington's impeccable job of directing. "Antwone Fisher" is a modest movie, but he handles it with such a master's touch that he seems well on his way toward joining Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood in that highest Hollywood pantheon of triple-threat producer-director-stars.

P-I movie critic William Arnold can be reached at 206-448-8185 or williamarnold@seattlepi.com.