Denzel Washington Reveals the Four Roles That Defined His Career

Denzel Washington has appeared in over 50 films, and he rarely delivers anything less than a strong performance. But when it comes to the roles he feels best represent his work, he often points to four movies. During a Reddit AMA, he was asked which of his films a newcomer should watch. He quickly suggested, “I would suggest that they watch two. Fences and Man on Fire.”

Fences, released in 2016, is a period drama directed and co-produced by Washington himself. The film is based on August Wilson’s 1985 play and stars Washington alongside Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and others. It tells the story of a working-class African-American father in the 1950s who struggles to raise his family while facing the challenges of his past. Critics loved the movie.

Man on Fire, a 2004 action thriller, is another of Washington’s favorites. Directed by Tony Scott and written by Brian Helgeland, it’s based on the 1980 novel by A. J. Quinnell. The movie stars Washington as a former CIA officer who becomes a bodyguard for a young girl in Mexico City.

When she is kidnapped, he goes on a violent revenge mission. The cast also includes Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, and Mickey Rourke. Despite the action and strong cast, the reviews were mixed.

Training Day, released in 2001, is where Washington believes he gave one of his greatest performances. He played Detective Alonzo Harris, a corrupt cop who is dangerous, manipulative, and violent.

Washington described the character as “an arrogant thief, liar, killer and egomaniac. He’s a sick, sick man who has no heart,” and added, “I’ve known for a while now that I’ve wanted to play someone like Harris!” Speaking to Blackfilm in 2006, he said, “People like the bad guy. I do. I enjoyed Training Day. It was my favourite part.”

The film also stars Ethan Hawke as a rookie cop and is set over a 24-hour period in Los Angeles’ gang-heavy neighborhoods.

Finally, Roman J. Israel, Esq., released in 2017, shows Washington’s desire to take on complex and meaningful roles. He played a dedicated but socially awkward defense lawyer facing a personal crisis.

Washington told the Inquirer, “I’m trying to get better. When I turned 60 and started to think about my career differently, I’m like, ‘This ain’t a dress rehearsal.’ I really don’t know how many years I have left on this planet, so I just want to maximise the effort and utilise the gifts I’ve been given.” Washington explained, “The thing about Roman is he can read any book with total recall… but he can’t read people.”

These four films, Fences, Man on Fire, Training Day, and Roman J. Israel, Esq., highlight different sides of Denzel Washington’s talent. From heroic to troubled, and even socially awkward, these roles show why he is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood.

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