In this week’s Safe House, Denzel Washington returns to a role that has suited him very well in the past: the bad guy. Over his long, illustrious career, though, positively every single “guy” has suited Denzel well, as virtually every movie features an unforgettable performance from the two-time Oscar winner. Read on to see how we rank his best performances.
5. Cry Freedom
Character: Steve Biko
“Denzel” Line: “You can beat me or jail me or even kill me, but I am not going to be what you want me to be!”
This was Washington’s major-role-in-a-feature-film debut, and it earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Not too shabby. Very much warranted, too: As South African activist-turned-martyr Biko, Washington’s amazing performance was as full of zeal and urgency as the character’s real-life counterpart.
4. Glory
Character: Trip
“Denzel” Line: “Let me tell you something, boy: You can march like the white man; you can talk like him; you can sing his songs; you can even wear his suits. But you ain’t NEVER gonna be nothing to him, other than an ugly ass chimp … in a blue suit.”
Washington broke out with the aforementioned Cry Freedom, but two years later, with Edward Zwick’s Glory, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with, winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his compelling portrayal of a proud soldier in an all-black unit during the Civil War.
3. The Hurricane
Character: Rubin “Hurricane” Carter
“Denzel” Line: “Hate put me in prison. Love’s gonna bust me out.”
The nonfiction of Rubin Carter’s story might’ve been “Hollywoodized” a bit too much for the movie’s sake, but Washington’s performance wasn’t affected. Playing the pro boxer who was wrongfully imprisoned for 20 years, an Oscar-nominated Denzel adeptly made us feel like part of the up-and-down journey, from the depths of despair to the elation of justice and everything in between.
2. Malcolm X
Character: Malcolm X
“Denzel” Line: “We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on us!”
Washington has played a number of real people, but none has carried the weight, scope and expectations of Malcolm X in this Spike Lee-directed biopic, for which Washington earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination only to lose, rather surprisingly, to Al Pacino. (“I’m not the only one who thinks Denzel was robbed on that one,” the normally shy Lee later said.) But the lack of a statue doesn’t undo the powerful, commanding performance turned in by Washington in this important, if somewhat uneven, movie.
1. Training Day
Character: Alonzo Harris
“Denzel” Line: “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!”
Denzel built his career by playing good, decent men; wronged men. In Training Day, he played a wrongdoer, and the result was a career-high performance – at least in our opinion – that easily earned him the Best Actor Oscar and showed off his astonishing range. And rage.
OTHER GREAT PERFORMANCES
Philadelphia
He appropriately took a backseat to the showy, dazzling tour de force on display by Tom Hanks, but make no mistake: Denzel’s subdued – save for a few explosive courtroom scenes – and measured performance was just as integral as Hanks’.
Inside Man
It’s easy to dismiss Denzel’s performance in Spike Lee’s heist whodunit, because he’s merely a piece – albeit a key one – to a large ensemble and, well, he makes it look so damned easy. But the truth is, Washington is oftentimes the glue that holds Inside Man together, thanks to his seemingly simple but actually complex performance.
Remember the Titans
Sure, it’s another made-for-Denzel role – and another “inspired by a true story” movie – but Washington still scored a touchdown (couldn’t resist) with his performance as a tough-love football coach in this inspirational crowd-pleaser.
Much Ado About Nothing
It’s hard to say which was more surprising: to see Denzel doing Shakespeare or to see Denzel doing somewhat lighthearted fare. Unsurprisingly, though, Washington was pitch-perfect in what is basically the tonal anomaly of his career.