One of the greatest actors of his generation,Denzel Washington, is well remembered for his gripping dramas and fast-paced action movies, but these are far from the only projects he’s been a part of. From his early work in romantic comedies to his forays into Shakespeare,Washington elevates every film he works on, capturing the audience’s attentioneven when he isn’t the story’s protagonist. However, like all performers, he’s taken on some interesting roles that stand out as a departure from the types of work that audiences and critics are used to associating with him.
However,breaking out of these archetypes and shaking up people’s expectations can be good for an actor.Getting typecast or pigeonholed into a particular type of role can be restricting. As Washington’s career has progressed, he’s always been interested in working with innovative and visionary filmmakers, even stepping behind the camera at various points in his life. However, when looking atDenzel Washington’s best movies, it’s clear they demonstrate his range as an actor. While many of the most unexpected additions to his filmography aren’t his highest-rated, they’re still important parts of his career.
The stacked cast ofFallen, boasting Washington, Donald Sutherland, and James Gandolfini, to name just a few, couldn’t save it from a negative critical reception. Though Washington often operates in stories with heightened realities and somewhat unrealistic action,Fallendives headfirst into supernatural territory. For an actor typically so rooted in reality, starring inFallenas Detective Hobbes was a departure for Washington, buthe helps to ground the otherworldly narrative.
Hobbes begins the story by solving typical, if gruesome, crimes. However, the narrative quickly evolves, andHobbes becomes aware that the fallen angel Azazel is behind the killings.From there, it comes down to Hobbes and the body-jumping Azazel in a tense game of cat and mouse, which Washington anchors with his dedication to the unexpected storyline. Though Washington wouldn’t make many returns to the fantasy genre after this, his performance is a highlight of the project.
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Denzel Washington’s Most Underrated Movie Is A $46 Million Flop From 26 Years Ago
Although Denzel Washington has enjoyed many major hits in his lengthy screen career, one of the star’s most underrated movies was a flop from 26 years ago.
Russell Crowe joins Washington inVirtuosity, a sci-fi thriller that pushed both actors out of their comfort zones.WatchingVirtuositytoday is even more interesting, as the story is entrenched in conversations about virtual realityand conversations about consciousness. Unfortunately, the computer program brought to life inVirtuositydoesn’t merely want to live its life in peace. Instead, it wreaks havoc on a dystopian version of Los Angeles. This forces Washington’s character, Barnes, to go after him.
The sci-fi aspects of the movie makeVirtuositymemorable and elevate it beyond a typical crime thriller.
All ofDenzel Washington’s movies from the 1990sshowcase a different side of the actor as he gained fame and transformed into a movie star, andVirtuosityis no exception. Washington and Crowe have good chemistry, even though their characters are at odds throughout the story. The sci-fi aspects of the movie makeVirtuositymemorable and elevate it beyond a typical crime thriller. Even whenVirtuositypushes the boundaries of believability, the performers take the subject matter seriously and help the audience to do the same.
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Washington plays Eli, the titular character inThe Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic storythat follows Eli, the seemingly perfect survival machine, as he embarks on a single-minded quest. Throughout his journey, Eli is smart, strong, fast, and a dangerous enemy, with enough emotional appeal to ensure that the viewer has no trouble rooting for him. Compared to other post-apocalyptic movies,The Book of Elitreads similar ground, especially considering the number of films within this genre that were cropping up in the 2010s.
A few years after this, Washington would kick off his next act withThe Equalizer,which firmly cemented him as an action blockbuster start, and projects likeThe Book of Elipaved the way for this. Though it isn’t the best-remembered addition to Washington’s filmography,The Book of Eliperformed well at the box office, earning $157,107,755 worldwide against a $80 million budget (viaBox Office Mojo). It’s also notable because it’s an overtly religious addition to his filmography.
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It had been a long time since Washington portrayed a Shakespeare character onscreen, and he made his fantastic return byembodying the iconic lead character inThe Tragedy of Macbeth.Playing opposite Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth, Washington grapples with the drama and tragedy of a man shaken to the core by the force of his ambition and the cost of his triumphs. Directed by Joel Coen, the project has a similar feel to the movie collaborations of the Coen Brothers but distinguishes itself as a faithful adaptation of the beloved play.
His recent filmography demonstrates that Washington is interested in these sweeping historical narratives.
One of thebest movies based on Shakespeare’s plays,The Tragedy of Macbeth, sparked renewed interest in these classic stories and is a great example of how they can be made relevant to modern viewers. Though many audiences know Washington for his action and thriller projects, he has a long history of working in the theater and has brought to life nuanced figures like Macbeth many times before. His recent filmography demonstrates that Washington is interested in these sweeping historical narratives.
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In the 1993 adaptation of Shakespeare’sMuch Ado About Nothing, Washington is underused as Don Pedro, but he still cuts a charming and striking figure whenever he’s onscreen. Like many of Shakespeare’s plays,Much Ado About Nothingrelies on miscommunications and hijinx to propel the story forward,allowing Washington to have fun and break out of the more serious roleshe had been cast in in the early 1990s. ThoughMuch Ado About Nothingwasn’t boundary-breaking, it’s an enjoyable and easy watch.
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When the film first premiered, it was far from the most exciting project that Washington was a part of at the time. A romantic period piece that didn’t feature him heavily,Much Ado About Nothingpaled in comparison to bigger films likeMalcolm XorPhiladelphia, which gave Washington more to work with. However, it’s a fun reminder thatWashington can easily fit into any role, and is a compelling romantic figurewhen given the chance to take on these parts.
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The 1973 novel of the same name by Morton Freedgood inspired this 2009 film,as well as the two film adaptations that preceded it in 1974 and 1998. In the most recent iteration, Washington goes head-to-head with John Travolta as the MTA dispatcher Walter Garber and the man hijacking the subway car, Ryder. A tense hostage thriller,The Taking of Pelham 123, was able to make some interesting changes to the original story since technological advancements have changed public transit. However, the life-and-death stakes remain just as compelling.
Washington is heroic and compelling enough as Garber, but the character doesn’t have the drive and intensity that would make his later action hero roles so iconic.
One of the biggest critiques againstThe Taking of Pelham 123was that it didn’t justify its existence as a remake of an already strong original movie. Washington is heroic and compelling enough as Garber, but the character doesn’t have the drive and intensity that would make his later action hero roles so iconic. Though this wasn’t the only movie remake of Washington’s career,The Taking of Pelham 123stands out because of its interesting concept but mixed results.
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
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This 1996 reimagining of the 1947 fantasy rom-comThe Bishop’s Wifesees Washington step into the role of an angel.The Preacher’s Wifeupdates the story ofThe Bishop’s Wife, placing the story in a contemporary setting and intertwining the intersectional struggles of a predominantly Black community in New York City with the protagonist’s, Henry, journey to self-actualization and commitment to his family.Washington’s character, the angel Dudley, arrives to help Henry but finds himself falling in love with his wife,Julia, played by Whitney Houston.
Though Houston didn’t have many film roles, as she was primarily a singer, she holds her own inThe Preacher’s Wifeand has strong chemistry with Washington. The story itself is strange, asDudley might have a connection with Julia, but the movie maintains the fact that he can never be with her.It’s a more serious take on the rom-com, which Washington has been known to participate in, but it’s far more sentimental than most of his other work.
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An intense thriller with a gripping emotional heart,Out of Timesees Washington’s character, Matt, targeted at every turn as he’s looking to find love. Though it makes sense that Washington would partner with the director, Carl Franklin, for a second time after the success ofDevil in a Blue Dress,Out of Timedidn’t reach the heights of their earlier collaboration.Set in the Florida Keys,Out of Timehas a fun visual aestheticthat isn’t seen in many of Washington’s other projects and is a surprisingly romantic action movie.
ThoughMatt falls victim to the charms of a femme fatale,his relationship with his estranged wife is the most important part of the story, as their connection persists even when they’re at odds. Unlike some of Washington’s past works,Out of Timeputs his character in the position to be saved time and again, as he relies heavily on the kindness of others. Eva Mendes' work as Matt’s wife, Alex, is a strong part of the story, with Sanaa Lathan’s Ann rounding out the love triangle.
Out of Time (2003)
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Déjà Vuwas Washington’s earlier collaboration with the director Tony Scottbefore they partnered onThe Taking of Pelham 123. However, likeThe Taking of Pelham 123,Déjà Vuborrows elements of more successful movies with less innovation and intrigue. Using time travel as a central conceit of the story, Washington’s character, Douglas Carlin, must travel back in time to prevent a terrorist attack. From there, the narrative only gets more complex and convoluted, two things most of Washington’s movies aren’t.
It’s always interesting when Washington delves into sci-fi and fantasy territory since audiences and critics aren’t used to seeing him in this light.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to draw unfavorable comparisons betweenDéjà Vuand the 1990s thriller12 Monkeys, which played with similar themes in a much more engaging way. It’s always interesting when Washington delves into sci-fi and fantasy territory since audiences and critics aren’t used to seeing him in this light. However, it’s obvious why Washington might have wanted to take on a project likeDéjà Vu, as there’s a lot to work with in the script and many exciting action-pack moments.
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John Q.isn’t a perfect film, but it’s emotionally resonant and has lost none of the potency of its messaging since its release in 2002. Washington portrays the desperate father,John Q., who holds a floor of a hospital hostage when his son is denied a heart transplantbecause the insurance company refuses to pay the enormous sum required for the surgery.John Q.grapples with universal themes of social equality and the desperation one feels when they’re made powerless in the face of exploitative bureaucracy and privatized healthcare.
It’s clear from the start ofJohn Q.that the audience is supposed to sympathize with John rather than the faceless corporations that would allow his son to die.Denzel Washingtongives a moving performance and disappears into the role, immersing the viewer in the tense story. Though it’s not subtle in its messaging,John Q.is one of the most overtly socially political movies of the actor’s career. However, no matter how political it gets, it’s impossible not to understand Jonh’s emotional journey.
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