Many of Hollywood’s greatest actors are polarizing figures, but fans rarely have anything bad to say about Denzel Washington. Whether the movie is good or bad, the actor has always been praised for his performances. His discipline away from the set has also drawn plenty of admiration. For Denzel, there are no scandals or insensitive remarks. It’s all about working hard and going home. Thanks to his talent and efforts, he has been granted several honors over the years: two Oscars, a Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, a Cecil B. DeMille Award, an AFI Life Achievement Award, and two Emmy nominations.
Washington has played almost every kind of role in his career, but he appears to have an affinity for biographical movies. From civil rights leaders to notorious gangsters, the actor has portrayed many real-world figures who either left a mark on society or disturbed the peace. Such films have brought out the best of his acting abilities, as audiences have seen him surrender himself to the characters while maintaining the mannerisms, tone, and dedication that made him such a huge star. But how do his biographical movies rank against each other?
8 Antwone Fisher (2002)
Antwone Fisher tells the story of the titular character, who joined the Navy to escape homelessness. However, he was prone to violent outbursts, prompting the military to assign him to a psychiatrist, Lt. Commander Williams (portrayed by Denzel Washinton in the movie), who helped him overcome his emotional trauma. After leaving the military, Fisher joined the Bureau of Prisons, before later working as a security guard for Sony Pictures, where Washington found out about his story.
Washington Shines in His First Directorial Effort
Most of the film’s 120-minute running time is dedicated to dialogue, and talking is something Denzel Washington does ever so well, so things never get boring. The unrivaled Washington is backed by sterling support from Derek Sterling (playing Fisher) in his acting debut. For the most part, the film stays stark and suspenseful, with tension building slowly as the two men venture into more sensitive topics.
This was Washington’s first directorial effort, and he filmed the psychiatrist’s office as a panorama of optimism and safety, making audiences feel some form of comfort. The proceedings would have benefited from more drama, but the picture still stands tall as a detailed exploration of mental health.
7 Remember the Titans (2000)
Remember the Titans takes viewers to the early ‘70s where integration is happening in schools, in an effort to end racism. At T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, the situation becomes heated when Black coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) is brought in to replace the white coach, Bill Yoast, who is relegated to defensive coordinator. The white players remain allied to Yoast, resulting in racial tensions that stretch throughout the entire season.
Winning Against All Odds
Widely regarded as one of the greatest football movies, Remember the Titans is a gripping film in which the themes of segregation blend with a sordid story of rivalry and vengeance to create a compact, twisty thriller. The biopic offers valuable lessons about leadership, with an ingenious plot that exaggerates some real-life moments to infuse some much-needed tension.
For example, the movie shows multiple close games, yet most of the games during the team’s unbeaten run were actually blowouts, with nine of 13 wins being shutouts. No fan is likely to complain about that though.
6 Cry Freedom (1987)
In every civil rights war, some of the top activists always end up clashing as a result of different methodologies. It happened with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, and in Cry Freedom, we see that the South African hero, Steve Biko (portrayed by Washington), didn’t always see eye to eye with those who shared his principles. Here, anti-Apartheid activist and journalist Donald Woods spends his days criticizing Biko for being too radical but eventually grows to love him after spending time with him.
Fighting for the Motherland
Director Richard Attenborough’s descent into violence and cruelty is relentless, but Washington’s virtuoso performance elevates the story beyond visuals and actions, achieving great emotional impact. The depravity might seem a bit excessive, but Attenborough avoids wallowing through the muck too much by presenting useful discourse about African politics. A stabbing portrait of a relentless, oppressed soul, this biographical film is hard to forget.
5 The Hurricane (1999)
In the late ‘60s, Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter was boxing for a pittance but hoping to be the biggest name in the sport. Sadly, his dreams were cut short when he was wrongfully accused of three murders in a bar. It would take until the mid-’80s for the judicial error to become clear, forcing the system to release Carter. The boxer’s life is covered in The Hurricane, based on the autobiography, The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender To 45472.
Fighting for a Living… and for Justice
Norman Jewison was always known for directing movies that addressed deeper social and political issues, so The Hurricane was right in his alley. However, this particular film marked him as a director with an inimitable artistic touch. It isn’t necessarily one of the greatest boxing movies, but it’s a solid picture. With jazz soundtracks and lucid grim imagery to accompany the fervid subject matter, Jewison made a biopic unlike any other.
Actor Vicellous Reon Shannon is likable and enthusiastically child-like as Lesra Martin (the man who pointed out the injustices and fought for Carter’s release), but the undisputed ace in the hole is Denzel Washington, whose bubbly, sashaying portrayal of Carter leaves audiences with a smile on the face, despite the gloomy atmosphere. Once again, Washington got an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
4 The Great Debaters (2007)
The plot of The Great Debaters centers around Wiley College’s debate coach Melvin B. Tolson’s efforts to lead his predominantly black institution to a victory in the 1930s, when Jim Crow laws (policies that enforced racial segregation in all areas of life) were common. The show-stopping Wiley team eventually overcomes all odds and defeats Harvard University for the national championship.
Stopping at Nothing
Based on a 1997 article for American Legacy by Tony Scherman, The Great Debaters is in an impressive, intellectual class all its own. And what a lineup it has: Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker, Kimberly Elise, Gina Ravera, Jermaine Williams, and Jurnee Smollett.
Washinton was all too familiar with this kind of role, having played a similar character in Remember the Titans, so he does his job effortlessly, coaxing desire and drive from his juniors at every turn. Historians will note a few historical inaccuracies, but these take away nothing from the inspiring story.
3 Glory (1989)
Glory is the story of America’s all-African-American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Following the Battle of Antietam, Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) is offered command of the unit. With the help of the junior officer, Cabot Forbes, the colonel forms a team that comprises the escaped slave Trip (Denzel Washington) and the witty gravedigger John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman). Even though they are initially limited to menial manual tasks, the unit works its way to the heat of battle.
Strong in All Areas
Through solid storytelling, Glory offers great insights into the history of the American military and establishes itself as one of the greatest Civil War movies while at it. It’s because of this particular unit that Abraham Lincoln approved the admission of more black people into the military. The action sequences and the blunt yet lyrical cinematography complement top-flight performances, notably Washinton, who won an Oscar for his efforts. This is perhaps the film that convinced the world that he could truly act. Don’t miss the glorious epilogue that sums up the events of Glory.
2 Malcolm X (1992)
Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have had a great collaborative relationship over the years, and Malcolm X is perhaps their best joint effort. The film is a tribute to the controversial activist who first drifted into the orbit of crime and found himself in prison in the ’50s. With halting steps, X found a path to healing, and not only became a Black Muslim but also an influential member of the Nation of Islam. Sadly, he was assassinated in 1965.
Never Easy to Make
Beautiful films are often birthed from tough production processes and such was the case with Malcom X. Like its central character, the film was plagued with several challenges, most of them of the financial kind. Thankfully, Black celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Prince, Janet Jackson, Tracy Chapman, and Peggy Cooper Cafritz, chipped in, allowing it to be completely successful.
Here, Washinton evokes feelings of stately and sublime melancholy but is cautious not to bury his character too deep underneath the harsh atmosphere. Audiences remain aware of how the story will end, but thanks to Washington’s performance, a tentative air of grace is maintained, creating room for numerous entertaining moments.
1 American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster covers the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a black gangster from La Grange, North Carolina, and protégé of Harlem mob boss, Bumpy Johnson, who, at the height of his career, was bigger than all drug lords and Italian mob bosses. Lucas came into prominence after it was revealed that he was smuggling heroin from Asia into the United States using the coffins of dead American soldiers. His empire was eventually taken down by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts (portrayed by Russel Crowe).
A Perfect Rise-and-Fall Story
Having starred together before in the ‘90s sci-fi movie, Virtuosity,Washington and Russel Crowe played against each other beautifully here in a cat-and-mouse game. The screenplay itself mingles playful moments with intense drama to form a timeless masterpiece. Whether it’s Frank shooting a debtor in front of everyone in the street, to him offering corporate-type monologues, there is no shortage of awe-inspiring moments. Though some elements aren’t necessarily true, American Gangster remains essential viewing for gangster movie buffs.
