Denzel Washington’s film with 89% on RT that turned him into a “movie star”, according to Roger Ebert

Today, Denzel Washington is considered a certified movie star, but some opinions may differ on when exactly the actor became so famous. Washington’s career began in the 1980s when he gained a recurring role on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. Just a few years later, he began taking film roles in major projects such as Glory, Malcolm X, and Training day. Nowadays, Washington is also known for Equalizer franchise and its next historical epic, Gladiator II. Yet few people can pinpoint the moment Washington became a household name.

Many different arguments could be made about when Washington became a real movie star. Some might say Washington’s first Oscar-nominated role in 1987 Cry Freedom It was the turning point for the actor. Others might name their highest-grossing film, american gangster, as a particularly notable moment in his career. His most memorable roles as Malcolm X or Herman Boone in Remember the Titans they could also be competitors. However, famous film critic Roger Ebert quotes the 1989 Washington film, The Mighty Quinn, as Washington’s true rise to fame due to his perfect portrayal of heroic gentleness.

What Roger Ebert said about Denzel Washington’s role in The Mighty Quinn

What is the mighty Quinn about

Despite all the arguments one might make about which film made Washington a star, Ébert seems to choose The Mighty Quinn as your first choice. He says: “The film stars Denzel Washington in one of those roles that creates a movie star overnight.“He starts to compare his performance in The Mighty Quinn to your powerful role Cry Freedom, and explains that the latter “didn’t even begin to hint at his reserves of charm, sensuality and eccentric humor.” Ebert concludes by placing Washington alongside greats like Sean Connery and Michael Caine.

The Mighty Quinn is a mystery comedy thriller based on a novel called Finding Maubee by AHZ Carr. The story follows police chief Xavier Quinn, played by Washingtonwhile helping his childhood friend, Maubee, who has become a murder suspect. Alongside Washington, the film also stars Robert Townsend, James Fox, Mimi Rogers and Sheryl Lee Ralph. However The Mighty Quinn may not be the most obvious choice of Washington’s best films, it was a well-received film with a solid 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Washington’s performance is definitely a highlight.

1989 was a very good year for Denzel Washington

Washington’s Top Rated Movies Explained

Notably, The Mighty Quinn came out in a year that was particularly strong for Washington. In addition to this film, he also appeared in the Civil War drama Gloryin 1989. This film scored an astonishing 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and also earned Washington his first Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor. Just two years earlier, he received his first nomination for Cry Freedom. In this way, The Mighty Quinn came at a time of growing success for Washingtonalthough the film itself doesn’t stand out as much as those released before and after it.

Generally, the late 1980s and 1990s were a very strong time for Washington. Although his highest-rated films vary in terms of year of release, several of them coincidentally debuted during this period. For example, Glory is the highest-rated Washington feature film of all time, according to Rotten tomatoes. It is closely followed by 1995 Devil in a blue dress and 1991 Mississippi Masala. The Mighty Quinn ranks 10th among Washington’s highest-rated filmswhich isn’t exceptional, but it definitely says something about the importance the film had on his career.

When did Denzel Washington actually become a movie star?

Washington’s critical success versus its financial success

There’s no solid answer as to when Washington became a movie star, but a solid estimate would be around the early 1990s. Washington had already established a name for himself after receiving Oscar nominations in the late 1980sso his name just got bigger and bigger with each film he made. Furthermore, Washington was being offered characters of incredible importance, including the titular character in Malcolm X and Joe Miller in Philadelphia. This likely occurred when Washington went from a promising actor to a bona fide Hollywood star.

Another element that places Washington’s success in the 1990s is the fact that his films began to be successful both critically and financially. Although many of Washington’s early films received critical acclaim, they did not do very well at the box office. However, around this time, the reception of Washington’s films began to even out. The Pelican Summary earned US$195 million and Philadelphia earned US$206 million. That’s why, Denzel Washington He established himself as a great actor.

Source: Rotten tomatoes