Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Inspired by the true life experiences of its title character, "Antwone Fisher" tells the compelling story of a troubled sailor who is ordered to see a naval psychiatrist about his volatile temper. Little does he know that his first step into the doctor's office will lead him on a remarkable emotional journey to confront his painful past and connect with the family he never knew.

Denzel Washington has already made a huge impact with his fine acting talents. Now he tackles a new part of Hollywood with his directorial debut, Antwone Fisher. This is a very powerful and touching true life drama of a Navy man who had nothing growing up but still became strong. Washington does a tremendous job with his direction and the story will pull right on your heart strings. This is an excellent drama that is fueled with great emotion and performances. Few movies have been so touching and it was an effort not to cry in this one. Washington has proved that he is not only a tremendous actor but also a fine director.

The HD presentation here looks quite good with a nice balance of depth and detail. Dimensionality is strong throughout and fine object detail is preserved nicely even in longer shots. Some of the stock footage varies in quality but this only comes into play a couple times. Contrast levels are solid with nice blacks and the film’s color palette has a very natural quality to it. Fine film grain is preserved and I rarely noticed any signs of ringing.

The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is good but this film doesn’t really have an overly aggressive sound design. Instead the track offers a very natural soundstage with good use of the surrounds for ambiance and environmental cues. Dialogue sounds good most of the time but there is some slight sibilance at times that can come off a bit harsh. Dynamic range is good at times with some decent low bass extension but this isn’t an aggressive mix.

Extras are the same as the DVD release and include a look at the production and the real Antwone Fisher and a look at the relationship of the Navy and Hollywood through the years. A feature commentary with Washington is also included.

This is a great character piece and a very realistic portrayal of Navy life (coming from a sailor). Fox has done a great job with the presentation making this an easy recommendation for fans and new comers alike.