Antwone Fisher on Blu-ray Disc Review
By Rachel Cericola
The Film
Why doesn't Denzel Washington direct more often? Sure, he does an excellent job in front of the camera, but
Antwone Fisher shows that he also has a calling from behind the scenes as well.
This is the true story of Antwone Fisher (played by Derek Luke), a man born in prison, abandoned as a baby, and brought up in an abusive foster home. Instead of turning to the streets for a home or a living, he enlists in the Navy, where he thrives as a sailor, but also takes out some of those childhood aggressions on the faces of others. After his first fight, Fisher is sent to work out his issues with a Navy psychiatrist Jerome Davenport (Washington).
Aside from a weak and not well developed side plot involving Davenport's marital problems,
Antwone Fisher is an extremely interesting, heartwarming story for the actor's first directorial effort.
There are also many great supporting performances, particularly Novella Nelson, as Antwone's frightening foster parent.
The Picture
Antwone Fisher offers up plenty of opportunity to show off its 2.35:1 image. Shots of the main character's day-to-day in the Navy, facial features, and even the darkness of Fisher's upbringing all have some nice detail. However, the release does have its issues. There is a noticeable amount of grain throughout the film, and some of the colors just don't pop like they should.
The Sound
Fox has given the film a nice treatment with DTS HD Master Audio track. Unfortunately,
Antwone Fisher doesn't use it all that well. It's mainly a dialogue-driven film, with the front speakers and center channel doing most of the work. The dialogue is presented nicely, but could be slightly sharper, especially in the club and bathroom scenes.
The Extras
There are very few extras on
Antwone Fisher. However, the movie is fascinating, so it's no surprise that the extras are just as intriguing. In "Meeting Antwone Fisher," the actual Antwone Fisher talks about some of his experiences. At points, this 14-minute short comes off a bit too much like the film's Cliffs Notes. However, it's a great story of how this Sony Studios security guard sold his life story and screenplay to Fox. Also, there's some gushing over the Navy in "Hollywood and the Navy." Again, though, there are a few trivia tidbits here, including how 9/11 affected the movie's shoot.
Final Thoughts
If you don't know anything about
Antwone Fisher, be prepared to cry like a baby. The story is well done, well acted, and engaging enough to send you seeking out Fisher's Wikipedia page. It's definitely worth seeing, but whether or not you need the Blu-ray is between you and your own A/V addiction.
Where to Buy:
Product Details
- Actors: Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Malcolm David Kelley, Novella Nelson
- Director: Denzel Washington
- Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish, French)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Region: A
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: PG-13
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Disc Release Date: January 20, 2009
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- List Price: $29.99
- Extras:
- Audio Commentary by Director Denzel Washington and Producer Todd Black
- Meeting Antwone Fisher
- The Making of Antwone Fisher
- Hollywood and the Navy
