Some of Washington's characters were good, some were bad, and others seemed to be a combination of both. There's no doubt that he's fun to watch, and it's difficult not to appreciate his talent. Although he has made a few less than spectacular films in recent years, Denzel Washington has generally been consistent and he is still a bankable star. Here is a short chronological list of his most intense and attention-grabbing roles.
Cry Freedom (1987)
This movie is set in South Africa in the late 1970s, when apartheid was still enforced. Washington portrays real-life activist Steve Biko, who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. Denzel Washington was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role.
Glory (1989)
This film recounts the events leading up to the Union Army's assault on Fort Wagner during the U.S. Civil War. The real 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an all-black unit under the command of a white officer. Denzel Washington plays the role of Private Trip, a runaway slave turned soldier. He won an Oscar for this role.
Malcolm X (1992)
This is Washington's film from beginning to end. The story, which is based on the life of Malcolm X from childhood right up to his assassination in 1965, is tough and pulls no punches. This movie might have been just another history lesson without Washington's presence. He commands attention in every scene.
Philadelphia (1993)
Tom Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, an AIDS-afflicted lawyer who is planning to sue his former bosses for wrongful termination. Denzel Washington is Joe Miller, a small-time ambulance chaser who doesn't know much about AIDS, wants nothing to do with homosexuals, and would prefer to keep it that way. That changes when he decides to take Beckett's case. The courtroom scenes are quite moving and the film illustrates that when it comes to issues like homosexuality, intolerance has no boundaries.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
This movie is set in Los Angeles in 1948. Washington plays Ezekiel 'Easy' Rawlins, a World War II veteran who is in desperate need of work. When he is hired to find a woman connected to a wealthy mayoral candidate, he gets more than he bargained for. He's up to his eyeballs in petty criminals, brutal cops, and shady underworld figures. This enjoyable film-noir gets everything right to accurately reflect the atmosphere of the late 1940s.
Crimson Tide (1995)
War is about to erupt between the U.S. and Russia. Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman are fighting their very own war aboard a U.S. nuclear submarine. When an incomplete order is received as a result of damage to the communication system, Hackman's tough-as-nails captain wants to attack the enemy. Washington's cautious lieutenant commander wants to wait before launching the missiles. The two men don't agree and a mutiny ensues. This conflict makes for a great thriller beneath the ocean surface.
The Hurricane (1999)
In Toronto in 1981, a youth from New York buys a book about a forgotten boxer named Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter. He reads the story about the aging champion, who is languishing in prison for a triple homicide he didn't commit. What unfolds is a story about the young American and his surrogate Canadian family embarking on a crusade to get Carter out of jail. The only way for them to do this is to dig deep into the past to uncover tainted evidence.
Training Day (2001)
Washington's portrayal of crooked cop Alonzo Harris made moviegoers sit up and pay attention. Alonzo is a veteran who trains Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) and wants to see if the young rookie has what it takes to clean up the streets of Los Angeles. Jake has just one day to prove himself, and this is the biggest test of his career. As the two men patrol some not so nice areas of L.A., Jake must decide if he's a wolf or a sheep — and Alonzo doesn't make it easy.
Denzel Washington has always managed to surprise his fans. Even when he's playing a less than honorable character, that special charm and magnetism always shines through.
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
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