Review

Choosing the affecting true-life story of a conflicted sailor unable to confront his childhood demons in which to make his directorial debut, Washington proves every bit as capable behind the camera as he is in front of it. Compelling, unsettling and ultimately heartwarming, Antwone Fisher -- scripted by Fisher himself -- recounts the troubled life of the young sailor. Unable to control his anger, he is sent to Navy psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Davenport (Washington), whose attempt to discover the root of his hostility is initially met with reluctance. As Antwone's difficult life is recalled in a series of devastating flashbacks, he is able to ty to come to terms and put his past to rest once and for all. In need of a little editing, Fisher's story can't quite escape some of the trappings of the genre, but thanks to newcomer Luke's ingratiating performance, Washington's sure hand, and a story that never loses focus and ends on just the right note, Antwone Fisher is a moving, even inspirational life story.