Denzel Washington had a career spanning over four decades that many actors could only dream of having. Known as one of the most versatile and energetic actors of his time, he can command the screen in a way few can. Washington has plenty of Oscar-worthy performances in his catalog. Although he is best known for his roles in bigger budget films, Washington has had many films that defined his career and acting ability that have gone unnoticed by some of his fans.
As one of the best actors of all time, Washington plays a pivotal role in every film he appears in, from specialty dramas to high-octane thrillers. Roles like playing an exasperated father in John Q. or portraying a hostage negotiator in Inner Man it could didn’t receive the critical acclaim of some of his other roles, but it’s just as entertaining and essential as a step forward in his storied career.. While it’s fun to scream along with his infamous diatribes like Alonzo Harris in Training daythere are many incredible, understated performances that have equal impact in some of Washington’s vastly underrated works.
10
2 Guns (2013)
As Robert ‘Bobby’ Trench
In 2 weaponsa film based on a comic book series of the same name, Washington teams up with Mark Wahlberg in a hilarious crime comedy directed by Baltasar Kormákur. They play two undercover cops from different agencies who are forced to put their differences aside and work together to take down a drug lord. The film is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that also features plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
2 weapons shows a lighter, more comical side of Washington’s career. Undoubtedly, The highlight of the film is the chemistry shared between Washington and Wahlbergwith the action and dialogue flowing freely between him and Wahlberg. Although both men are best known for their dramatic action films, they nail the concept of this film and display expert comedic timing and self-aware personalities that make it an engaging and enjoyable watch from start to finish.
9
Out of Time (2003)
As Mathias ‘Matt’ Lee Whitlock
Out of time is a mystery thriller directed by Carl Frankin and tells the story of Matt Whitlock, a respected local police chief who becomes involved in a deadly conspiracy. After his lover, married to another man, is diagnosed with cancer, he steals nearly half a million dollars from an evidence locker. to help her get treatment. After his lover and her husband are murdered in a mysterious house fire, Whitlock discovers some horrible secrets and is forced to go on the run to collect evidence, question his enemies, and prove his innocence.
Although it is not one of his best-known films Washington gives a captivating performance as a man in authority who is forced to face some difficult moral dilemmas. and complex situations. This reflects his later work as Alonzo Harris in Training dayas a police officer whose morally ambiguous and complex performance would go down in cinema history. While not on the same level, it’s another excellent film that gave Washington a chance to shine in a suspenseful yet grounded role.
8
João Q (2002)
As John Archibald
James Kearns’ intense drama stars Washington as John Archibalda father who is forced to go to extreme lengths to help his son Michael get on the organ donor list. Michael collapses at a basketball game, and after extensive testing, his family is told they must pay $250,000 for the operation or else Michael will die. After John tries every means to raise funds with little success, he is forced to ‘rob’ the hospital, taking patients and staff hostage at gunpoint, in a desperate attempt to get his son the medical care he needs. .
In a theme that can certainly be attributed to Washington as a trademark, he seems to gravitate towards complex and charismatic characters who find themselves embroiled in increasingly important moral dilemmas. While the film’s message about the American healthcare system may be a bit exaggerated, Washington still brings a grounded performance to a plot that would otherwise be more fantastical. He gives a passionate monologue about his son and the flaws in his care, which really resonates, and his story feels more relevant now than ever.
7
He Got the Game (1998)
As Jake Shuttlesworth
In one of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s best films, Le approaches the height of his directorial prowess. He got the game sees the Washington star as Jake Shuttlesworth. Shuttlesworth is in prison for accidentally killing his wife and the mother of his son, high school basketball phenom Jesus Shuttlesworth. Jake has a chance to get out of prison through work release and potentially have his sentence commuted if he convinces his son to get into the governor’s college, ‘Big State.’ A complex, multifaceted moral dilemma that finds a father trying to reconnect with his estranged son through his love of basketball.
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Collaborations with Denzel Washington and Spike Lee |
Release year |
|
‘Mo Best Blues |
1990 |
|
Malcolm X |
1992 |
|
He got the game |
1998 |
|
Inner Man |
2006 |
|
High and Low (To come) |
TBD |
Washington is forced to show a strong emotional range in a character who finds himself in a unique situation. Washington’s relationship and chemistry with Ray Allen’s Jesus is authentic and genuineproviding the basis for the rest of the film. It’s an introspective, nuanced portrait of a father who is forced to reconnect with his son while dealing with his own demons, and the pair have several explosive scenes of anger and resentment. While it didn’t achieve the critical acclaim of some of his other works, it is nevertheless a fantastic performance in a brilliant family drama.
6
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
As Sam Chisholm
In an action-packed remake of the classic 1960 Western, The Magnificent Seven tells the story of a small gold mining town that was taken over and controlled by a wealthy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue. With local lives and businesses at stake, a local woman enlists the services of U.S. Marshal and bounty hunter Sam Chisholm (Washington) to swoop in and save the day. Chisolm recruits a group of eclectic bandits and gunslingers to save the city by any means necessary.
Even in a cast that features stars like Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio, Washington still stands out in a mature and enduring performance.
Washington, as actor and character, literally and metaphorically leads the charge in this classic Western with a modern twist. Even in a cast that features stars like Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio, Washington still stands out in a mature and enduring performance as the bounty hunter on a mission. He adds a layer of intensity to the film that would be missing without him and is also believable and believable throughout the shootout action sequences.
5
Mo’Better Blues (1990)
As Minifield “Bleek” Gilliam
Mo’ Best Blues It was Washington’s first impressive collaboration with Spike Lee, who wrote, directed and stars in this musical comedy-drama. The film follows the story of Washington’s Bleek Gilliam a talented but haunted jazz trumpeter as he continues to make a series of bad decisions that cost him his friends and his jazz career.. Washington and Lee deliver two stunning performances in a beautiful story about friendship, music and the journey of self-discovery.
In one of the most captivating and nuanced portraits of his entire career, Washington impersonates the fictional jazz musician who feels like he’s going down the drain in more ways than one. His frequent collaborations with Spike Lee allow the two to bring out the best in each other, with Lee’s masterful direction pushing Washington to its full potential. In turn, Washington gives Lee a star who can elevate any role or character he is given. The chemistry between the cast, the beautiful jazz soundtrack, and the elegant yet brutal portrayal of Washington combine to make this an underrated gem.
4
The Pelican Summary (1993)
As Gray Grantham
Based on John Grisham’s 1992 novel, The Pelican Summarythe film finds Washington joining forces with Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts in this gritty legal thriller. Washington plays Gray Grantham, an investigative journalist who becomes involved in a political plot and conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government.. It’s a fast-paced, twisted narrative that’s a complex plot of corrupt officials and brutal crimes.
While rarely mentioned in discussions of Denzel’s best films or even his films in general, it’s a huge oversight as he delivers one of the strongest performances of his career. Washington’s chemistry with co-star Roberts is off the chartsforming a compelling team that, when combined with the fast-paced, intricate plot, creates a film worth revisiting again and again. Washington’s calm, methodical approach to a journalist tasked with the biggest story of his life is truly captivating to watch.
3
The Book of Eli (2010)
Like Eli
In one of Washington’s most unique roles, the actor takes on the titular character of Eli in the post-apocalyptic The Book of Elia wandering nomad in a post-apocalyptic world who possesses a copy of a mysterious book. He has the mission to deliver the book to a safe location on the other side of the United States, but on the way he comes across enemies, thieves and robbers who want to steal his precious cargo. The film is set against the backdrop of desolate landscapes and combines bone-crushing action with a witty and intriguing narrative.
Washington once again commands the screen in a performance that is defined as much by its strength as by moments of vulnerability. However The Book of Eli received generally mixed reviews from the public, this does not mean that Washington performed poorly. From him his commitment to the character and the film in general is never in doubt and lays the groundwork for some of his future action roles. The constant tension and devastating action sequences, along with Washington’s stellar role, are enough to make this one of his most unknown films.
2
The Great Debaters (2007)
As Melvin B. Tolson
The great debaters is an exceptional historical drama that follows the issues and victories of the Wiley College debate team in the 1930s. The film delves into debate professor and coach Melvin B. Tolson (played by Washington), who works at a historically black college and trains an all-black debate team to participate in debates across the country. With Tolson’s tutelage and the team’s incredible intelligence and skills, they destroy the teams’ racist worldview in the Deep South by winning and traveling to Harvard to debate at the prestigious college.
Not satisfied with just the lead role, Washington also directed The Great Debaterandand it’s clear he’s starting to become more confident behind the camera. Washington is known for taking on projects about race, injustice, and social inequality, and combines them all beautifully in this powerful play that sheds light on some of these key issues. As Tolson, he gives one of the most captivating and provocative portrayals of his career. The impactful message that the film captures is something that needs to be discussed and watched more in this underrated gem of his filmography.
1
Inside Man (2006)
As Detective Keith Frazier
In another Spike Lee collaboration, Inner Man sees Washington play Detective Keith Frazier in this witty heist thriller that is criminally underrated. Frazier faces bank robbery mastermind Clive Owen’s Dalton Russell. Russell quickly turns a simple hostage situation into a complex game of cat and mouse. TThe film’s characters and plot continually evolve throughout the runtime as twists and secrets come to lightwhich makes discovering the motives, demands and perpetrators of the theft an almost impossible task.
In potentially the most complex portrait of any Washington characterhe provides the driving forces behind the film’s entire plot. His chemistry and long dialogue sequences with Owen are a masterstroke, as the two play off each other perfectly. As Washington’s character unravels the mystery, the viewer watches him unravel while continually being pressured to make moral decisions and situations that are beyond his reach. However Denzel Washington plays the balance perfectly, it elevates the film to new heights and is definitely his most criminally underrated film.