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Top 10 Denzel Washington

Cutting his teeth playing historical figures like activist Malcolm X and boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, Denzel has now become almost synonymous with the great Hollywood thriller. Denzel has overcome perceived white audience hostility to interracial screen partnerships and become a true, and truly great, establishment figure. Revisit his best moments in our top 10.

His Top 10 Films

Glory (1989)

The Edward Zwick (Defiance) directed film, Glory, is a dramatic account based on the Battle of Antietam, during the American Civil War. Denzel received critical acclaim and acknowledgement from his peers in the industry for his portrayal of proud slave Trip. He went onto win an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 1990 Academy Awards, marking a significant starting point in Washington’s career.

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Malcolm X (1992)

Producer Marvin Worth acquired the rights to the autobiography of Malcolm X in 1967, but it took 25 years before the film was finally given the go ahead. The story was re-written countless times, while public outcries took place over who should direct the film, and ultimately who should play such an iconic, historical figure. Finally Washington was brought on board alongside director Spike Lee – who has since joked he and Washington planned to flee the country if the film had fallen flat on its face.

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Philadelphia (1993)

Inspired by true events, Philadelphia retells the true story of an attorney’s attempts to sue a law firm for unfair dismissal, after he contracted AIDS. For the supporting role of personal injury lawyer Joe Miller, Washington was asked to indulge a sweet tooth and pork up for the part. In contrast, his co-star Tom Hanks slimmed down to waif-like proportions, losing a whopping 30 pounds to play lead character Andrew Beckett. Much to the dismay of Hanks, Washington is rumoured to have wolfed down chocolate bars in front of his co-star to add to his athletic form.

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Crimson Tide (1995)

Cramped at the bottom of the ocean, Washington’s character, Commander Ron Hunter is forced to pull rank on his Captain, Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) in this military submarine movie. With un-credited re-writes by Quentin Tarantino, the stand-off scenes between Washington and Hackman are an intelligent combination of grit and wit. According to producer, Don Simpson, Washington wasn’t the first choice to play Hunter. Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise were considered for the role, before landing on the Glory actor.

Rent

The Siege (1998)

Director, Edward Zwick and Washington’s working relationship was re-ignited for a second time on The Siege. Washington’s character, FBI Agent Anthony Hubbard is thrust into nail-biting negotiations with Arab terrorists, after the bombing of the Khobar Towers, during the Clinton administration. Also starring Bruce Willis, Zwick’s patriotic adaptation was made three years before America called a ‘war on terror’. Screen-writer Laurence Wright recently cited the events of September 11 as the reason behind the film’s DVD rental success.

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He Got Game (1998)

He Got Game sees Washington teaming up with director Spike Lee once again, in this father-son basketball drama. Washington plays convicted felon and father of a rising basketball star, Jake Shuttlesworth, who is temporarily released from jail under the proviso he can convince his son to attend the governor’s State college. The film opened at number one in the U.S. box office to rave reviews.

Rent

The Hurricane (1999)

The Hurricane tells the story of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter’s repeated struggle to clear his name of murder, during a staggering 20 year prison sentence. Washington was widely praised for his portrayal of the boxer, but some critics blame the film’s inaccuracies for Washington’s defeat at the Oscars in 2000. Interestingly, the film’s producers paid for their liberal approach to storytelling, when former Middleweight World Champion Joey Giardello sued them for libel over his depiction.

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Training Day (2001)

Washington threw his image as the clean-cut hero out the window to play a pot-smoking, drug dealer and all-round bad-ass in Antoine Fuqua’s Training Day. The role of corrupt cop Alonzo Harris earnt Washington his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, after having been nominated previously for Malcolm X and The Hurricane. In several interviews, after the film’s release, Washington revealed that this was one of his favourite characters to play.

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Man On Fire (2004)

This 2004 remake of the 1987 cat and mouse crime thriller, Man On Fire, follows a former assassin (Washington) as he attempts to recover a wealthy business man’s (Marc Anthony) daughter, being held for ransom. It is rumoured Washington was “talked into” the role by Scott in the waiting room of his local doctors. Their chance meeting sealed Washington’s involvement with the project, and marked the actor and director’s second time working together, since The Crimson Tide.

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American Gangster (2008)

Washington sunk his teeth into the role of lifetime as Frank Lucas – real life gangster and heroin smuggler from Harlem – in Ridley Scott’s crime epic, American Gangster. Based on a New York magazine story, The Return Of Superfly and co-starring Russell Crowe, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards. Washington initially expressed a dislike in the gangster genre, but reconsidered when he realised the strong dimensions of his character.

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Jennifer Trevorrow