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Trust Weighted
OK
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5Trust Points
BigdaddyDave's Review
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.
Acting - OK 2.5
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*.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.Female Costars - Good 3.0
Novella Nelson is great in creating the wicked foster mother who abuses Fisher. Very good acting.Male Costars - OK 2.5
Film - OK 2.5
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.Dialogue - Barely OK 2.0
Moved a little too slow for my liking.Music - OK 2.5
Visuals - OK 2.5
Edge - Risqué 2.5
Sex Titillating 2.2
Violence Brutal 2.6
Rudeness Profane 2.7
Reality - Glib 1.2
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.Biological - Natural 1.0
Physical - Natural 1.0
2 Comments
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BigdaddyDave Jun 20, 2011 12:19PM
Regarding BigdaddyDave’s Review
Thanks Wick. It wasn’t a bad film, it just was one of those movies you can see once, and then move on. It certainly wasn’t one of Denzel’s best, in my opinion. -
Wick Jun 20, 2011 11:44AM
Regarding BigdaddyDave’s Review
Well argued review BigD. I remember liking this movie quite a bit when it came out, but for now, your OK stands.