He can portray a corrupt cop as easily as an action hero, a passionate civil rights activist or a curious musician. And even if he barely utters a word, he has a way of commanding the viewer's attention. Of course, I'm talking about the incomparable Denzel Washington, who, throughout his decades-long career, has delivered some of the strongest and most impactful performances in cinema.
For instance, I could go on for days about his powerful portrayal of the iconic Malcolm X, and I still think about his emotional performance in Glory (goodness, that flogging scene). So, it doesn't surprise me that he's just two letters away from EGOT status, with two Academy Awards and a Tony to his name.
As it turns out, the iconic Sidney Poitier helped Washington kickstart his successful career by offering sage advice. He told The Talks, "Sidney Poitier told me many, many years ago that the first four or five movies that you do will determine how you’re perceived in the business. So I was very blessed that the second movie I did was with Norman Jewison, the third movie I did was with Sidney Lumet, and the fourth movie I did was Cry Freedom with Richard Attenborough, for which I was nominated for the first time. I was off to the races. There were other movies that I could have done and I didn’t do."
Since then, the actor has done several top-notch crime dramas, biopics and thrillers, from Inside Man to Devil in a Blue Dress. Keep reading for my full ranking of the best Denzel Washington movies.
