Why is Denzel Washington the most outstanding actor of the 21st century?

What helped Denzel Washington be voted by the New York Times as the best actor of the 21st century?

Denzel Washington received an award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2017. | Source NYT/Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesDenzel Washington nhận giải tại Screen Actors Guild Awards năm 2017. | Nguồn NYT/Christopher Polk/Getty Images

In 2019, The American Film Institute awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Denzel Washington for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the film industry. Recently, the New York Times (NYT) also voted this 66-year-old black actor at the top of the list of the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century (to date).

Let’s look back at Denzel Washington’s monumental career to understand why he was so honored.

The most outstanding actor of the 21st century: without question

The New York Times’ list of the 25 most outstanding actors has caused a lot of controversy since its publication, because there are too many acting icons absent from this “golden list” such as Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Cate. Blanchett, Amy Adams… However, there is one name that receives a lot of consensus from the audience, especially the American audience, which is Denzel Washington’s number 1 position.

AO Scott, one of the two prestigious film critics of the NYT, also admitted that: “We debate every other position on this list, but the number 1 position does not require hesitation or consideration. .”

Scott believes that Denzel Washington is an icon, a giant on screen, as well as a refined and sharp craftsman on stage thanks to his rigorous training. Throughout his career, Denzel has played many different types of roles, most of which are strong or complex, intense or fierce, dense with masculinity or filled with inner depths waiting to explode.

A series of later roles, spanning from the 90s to the present, prove that Denzel Washington is a dominant male power symbol on screen, like the two icons John Wayne or Clint Eastwood created before them. This. What’s different: Denzel Washington is a black icon.

Over the past two decades, Denzel Washington has often taken on alternating entertainment and art projects to balance the audience’s tastes. Audiences who revere him as an old-school action icon will remember films like Man on Fire (2004), The Book of Eli (2010), Safe House (2012), The Equalizer 1 & 2 (2014, 2018), The Magnificent Seven (2016)… His action films are also realistic, focusing on situations and placing characters in vital challenges so they can express their human nature. In short, they are “old-school” action movies that never get old, even in the current era of superhero movies.

Choosing not to participate in “franchise” superhero movies like Marvel or DC, each of Denzel’s action movies is an independent work. During a career spanning more than four decades, Denzel has only starred in the sequel to The Equalizer , a film directed by black director Antoine Fuqua, who recognized the actor’s diverse transformation abilities. him and helped him win an Oscar.

If in action films, Denzel Washington uses guns or fists to talk to enemies, then in art films, he uses his voice and the power of conscience to portray the depths of the characters and transmitted directly to the audience.

Roles “real gold tested by fire”

Of the approximately 60 films that Denzel Washington has appeared in, in various roles as actor, producer and director from the early 80s of the 20th century until now, I would like to choose 6 iconic roles of grandfather. Denzel’s “fire and gold” roles contributed to cinema and forever changed the image of black people on American screens.

These were small projects that changed society’s view of people of color, and Denzel Washington was the one who moved the audience by pushing these characters to their physical or mental limits.

The first film to mention is Glory (1989), a work about the American Civil War and the struggle of black people for justice. In this critically acclaimed war epic directed by Edward Zwick, who can forget a tear running down the cheek of Denzel’s character – one of the most memorable moments in film history?

It was an incredible performance that, despite being a supporting role, earned Denzel Washington his first Oscar.

Just three years later, Denzel Washington had another lifetime role with charismatic acting effects when playing Malcolm X – the legendary civil rights leader in the biographical film of the same name directed by Spike Lee. At the age of 35, the actor has vividly and subtly shown the journey of this iconic character: from adolescence to adulthood, from a prisoner to a leader and finally a martyr. This role helped Denzel Washington get another Oscar nomination for leading man, but did not win.

Denzel Washington continues to move audiences to tears and deep sympathy with his rage and despair in his biographical role as Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter. In the movie The Hurricane (1999) – the character of a former middleweight boxer is wrongly convicted of killing three people in a bar in New Jersey. Another leading man Oscar nomination for him, and another failure to win.

But by Training Day (2001), no one was strong enough to win Denzel Washington’s Oscar anymore. With a role that completely transforms his personality and appearance, Denzel Washington becomes a charming but also extremely scary detective. This performance broke Denzel Washington’s safe position or “only playing the good guy”.

That was also the premise for more than 10 years later, Denzel Washington continued to transform with Whip Whitaker in Flight (2012), a pilot… addicted to alcohol and heavy drugs, but somehow still working every day. day, even excelled, even in the face of life-or-death challenges. Denzel gives a convincing performance about the inner journey of such a complex character.

The last role that I chose as Denzel Washington’s top 6 “fire tests gold” is Troy Maxson in Fences (2016). This is a rather heavy psychological film adapted from the play of the same name by August Wilson (also starring Denzel Washington). In the film, he also played the role of producer and director.

Despite its heavy drama, Fences is still a wonderfully moving work through the top performances of Denzel Washington and Viola Davis – a couple who endure the weight of racism on their bodies and minds. their soul. Denzel’s character as a conservative and patriarchal husband and father is so excellent that every action, every gesture, every eloquent word… affects the viewer and even manipulates him. audience’s mind.

“Don’t aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.”

In addition to being an icon of acting and living personality, Denzel Washington is also a strong inspiration.

After years of struggling to find a foothold in Hollywood at the beginning of his career, Denzel Washington said that, before doing the things we “want to do”, we should do the things we “have to do” first. He admitted that every actor has a star, but don’t wait and work and dedicate yourself to your career. “Luck is when the opportunity comes and you are prepared for it” – he said.

In an inspirational talk for recent college graduates, Denzel Washington reminds young people to “don’t aspire to make a living, but make a difference.”

“The opportunities we know how to take at the right time, the people we meet because of fate, the people we love and the faith we have… – that’s what makes you who you are.”

“Become and stay true to who you are in this world, no matter what you encounter!”

Denzel Washington passes on those values ​​and legacy, exactly as he created his art.