Denzel Washington has developed a reputation as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and many of his best movies have come in the crime genre. Washington has a habit of playing different law enforcement officials, whether they are detectives, federal agents or private investigators. Often, when he takes a foray into an unfamiliar genre, like sci-fi or Westerns, he does so in a movie that still deploys many tropes and traditions of the crime genre.
Washington’s best crime movies have a surprising range of genres and styles. There are more comedic and intelligent puzzles likeInside Man,as well as brutal action flicks like theEqualizerfranchise. No matter what kind of character he’s playing, Washington always seems to bring his A-game to the crime genre. He has even earned some awards for his performances in the crime genre.
Denzel Washington has played just about every kind of police officer, federal agent and detective possible by now, butThe Bone Collectoris still an oddity, since he plays a paraplegic forensics expert who works from the confines of his bed. Angelina Jolie plays the rookie cop who stumbles onto the case of a deranged serial killer, and Washington’s character helps to direct her movements as they investigate as a team.
The Bone Collectordidn’t earn the best reviews, but it’s much more popular with audiences than critics.Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie work well together, and the huge differences between their two characters lend the story an inherent dynamism that some crime thrillers struggle to achieve. Serial killer movies were a major trend of the 1990s, and whileThe Bone Collectordoesn’t compare to hits likeThe Silence of the LambsandSe7en,it still deserves more love.
The Little Thingsfeels like a throwback to an earlier style of crime thriller, and it’s the kind of movie that Denzel Washington might have made about 20 years earlier. Unsurprisingly,The Little Thingswas first written in 1993, and it was dragged through development hell for decades, passing through the hands of many different actors and directors before eventually taking shape with Washington alongside Rami Malek and Jared Leto.
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The Little Thingsreceived mixed reviews, butit’s the type of movie that could become more popular over timeas audiences watch it without the context of other crime movies of the era. The three stars all deliver great performances, with Leto dialing in his detached, sociopathic gaze and Malek blending volatile anger with self-righteous confusion. Theending ofThe Little Thingsleaves audiences with a few questions to ponder, giving the movie a lot of rewatch value.
Denzel Washington’s first Western wasn’t a completely new experience for him, sinceThe Magnificent Sevenis also a crime movie in which Washington plays a United States Marshal, placing him in somewhat familiar territory.The Magnificent Sevenis a remake of the classic 1960 Western of the same namestarring Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson et al. The remake holds up well, even if it doesn’t threaten the status of the original.
The Magnificent Sevenquickly delivers plenty of gunslinging action to accompany its personal and moral conflict.
The Magnificent Sevenstars Washington alongside Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio and more. It’s an eclectic mix, but it works well, as the ragtag group of bounty hunters make for some interesting character dynamics.The Magnificent Sevenquickly delivers plenty of gunslinging action to accompany its personal and moral conflict.Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuquaworked together onTraining Dayand theEqualizerfranchise, butThe Magnificent Sevenshouldn’t be overlooked.
Man on Fireholds an interesting place in Denzel Washington’s filmography, since it was initially panned by critics but has since been recognized as one of his best and most exciting movies. The difference betweenMan on Fire’s 38% Rotten Tomatoes score and its 89% audience score highlights the huge divide between opinions.Man on Fire’s grim tone and blood-soaked violence isn’t to everyone’s tastes.
The difference betweenMan on Fire’s 38% Rotten Tomatoes score and its 89% audience score highlights the huge divide between opinions.
Man on Fireis being remade as a Netflix series, which highlights how the movie still has an audience over 20 years later. It will be hard to replicate the appeal of the original, however, since Denzel Washington is firing on all cylinders as a reluctant bodyguard tasked with protecting a young girl. It’s a simple thriller, but Washington makes it shine, andTony Scott shows that his reputation for exhilarating action is well-earned.
Denzel Washington doesn’t make many sequels, even for some movies which seem like ideal candidates.The Equalizerfranchise seems to be the one big exception to this rule. He has made two sequels so far, with plans forThe Equalizer 4and5also in the pipeline.The Equalizermovies are more action-heavy than some of Washington’s other crime movies, which helps explain why they work well as a franchise.
The Equalizermovies are more action-heavy than some of Washington’s other crime movies.
There’s some debate over which of the threeEqualizermovies is the best, but the original deserves credit for creating the formula that the sequels have followed. Not only did Washington venture into uncharted territory as a true action star, butThe Equalizeralso gave him a chance to play a ruthless vigilante, unlike some of his morally righteous law enforcement characters in other movies.
Tony Scott and Denzel Washington teamed up again two years afterMan on Fire,and they created another explosive crime movie that seems to please audiences more than critics.The key difference is the time-travel element toDéjà Vu,which is an unusual hook, considering Washington isn’t known for sci-fi movies.Déjà Vutries to remain as grounded as possible with its sci-fi trickery, so it often resembles some of Washington’s other crime thrillers without the time-travel getting in the way of the story’s emotional thrust.
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Déjà Vuis a compelling fantasy about wishing to turn back time, and it examines the public grief and trauma caused by disasters, as well as the shortcomings of law enforcement and criminal justice. The plot focuses on the aftermath of a terrorist attack, suggesting that the emotional beats were inspired by the public response to the September 11 attacks, but it’s important to note thatDéjà Vuwas filmed in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Both disasters caused an outpouring of grief and denial, and this is whatDéjà Vulooks to explore.
Devil in a Blue Dressis one of many Denzel Washington movies that seemed like it would be perfect for a sequel, but the ending’s hint towards more possible movies was left unresolved. Still,Devil in a Blue Dressstands out as a compelling crime drama, with Washington bringing his familiar detective persona to post-war Los Angeles. The movie captures the atmosphere of the time beautifully, creating an absorbing story.
WhileWashington is in fine form in one of his earliest crime movies, Don Cheadle also deserves recognition for an outstanding performance. Washington and Cheadle both contribute to a lively period crime thriller that feels realistic despite its historical setting. The setting isn’t just for show, however, as it sets up an intriguing personal drama about trauma and race in post-war America.
Denzel Washington and Spike Leealways seem to bring the best out of each other, and their 2006 heist dramaInside Manis proof of this. Washington plays a charming detective called to the scene of a hostage situation at a Manhattan bank.He develops an intriguing dynamic with Clive Owen, who plays the leader of the bank robbers, and the few scenes that they share together crackle with intensity.
Inside Manis filled with all the exciting twists and turns that a great heist movie should have.
Inside Manis filled with all the exciting twists and turns that a great heist movie should have. Spike Lee knows that he’s playing a game of wits with his audience, and he uses some time jumps, dead ends and other narrative techniques to keep his audience guessing right until the end. This gives Washington the space to have a little fun, and he commands his surroundings like a veteran detective.
Long beforeGladiator II, American Gangstermarked Denzel Washington’s first collaboration with Ridley Scott.Washington is famous for playing cops, so it’s an interesting change of pace to see him playing notorious drug lord Frank Lucas, and he revels in the chance to play a more villainous character. Lucas and other people close to the case have said thatAmerican Gangstertakes some creative liberties with the story - which is no surprise considering Scott’s views on historical accuracy - but it’s a wonderfully entertaining crime thriller nonetheless.
It’s an interesting change of pace to see him playing notorious drug lord Frank Lucas.
Russell Crowe also delivers a superb performance inAmerican Gangster.He plays the detective on Frank Lucas' tail, as the two men discover their vast differences and their interesting similarities.American Gangsterwas Denzel Washington’s highest-grossing movie untilGladiator II,proving that it has a broad general appeal. Washington’s villain role is essential to this, and so is Scott’s flair for action.
Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning performance inTraining Daycould be his very best, as he brings a volatile and fiercely watchable energy to Antoine Fuqua’s crime drama. Washington plays a crooked cop tasked with showing Ethan Hawke’s young rookie how things are really done in the streets. The movie unfolds over the course of one frantic day, soTraining Daymanages to maintain a frantic speed throughout.
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Training Day’s scriptis filled with memorable quotes, with Washington hoovering up more than his fair share. He seems so at home in the character of Alonzo Harris that everything he says feels natural, even when it’s completely unhinged. The fact that he improvised his famous"King Kong"line shows that Washington understands the comedic side toTraining Day.This comedy helps to keep the pace up, but it also makes the drama and the action even more intense.
