Leading Role: Denzel Washington

I've said it about 1000 times, but I will say it again. The best two actors of our generation are Leonardo DiCaprio and Denzel Washington. If I had to rate all the actors in Hollywood those two would be 1 and 1a. DiCaprio is awesome because of his versatility and the fact that he's slamming arguably the hottest chick on the planet. Denzel is great because he's transcended crime dramas from both sides of the coin. In fact, he's so good that I root for him even if he plays the criminal (American Gangster (2008)).

That being said, which Denzel role is his finest? He's won two Oscars. One for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Civil War drama Glory (1989) and one for Best Actor for his role in Training Day (2001), which I'll cover momentarily. The real question here though is what movie do you immediately think of when you see Denzel? If he were to retire from acting today, which movie role would he be most remembered for?

To better gauge your response, here are the nominees:


1.) Gray Grantham in The Pelican Brief (1993)



This is probably the best Denzel movie out there that most of you haven't heard of. In the film, which is based on a novel by John Grisham, Denzel plays an investigative journalist who catches wind of law student's theory about why 2 U.S. Supreme Court Justices were murdered. As he and the law student, played by Julia Roberts, uncover more pieces to the puzzle their lives become increasingly more in danger.

Most Memorable Lines:

Darby Shaw: Everyone I have told about the brief is dead.
Gray Grantham: I’ll take my chances.

Justice Rosenberg: Any of those signs got my name on 'em?
Gray Grantham: Quite a few.
Justice Rosenberg: What do they say?
Gray Grantham: The usual: Death to Rosenberg, Retire Rosenberg, Cut off the oxygen.
Justice Rosenberg: [laughs] That's my favorite. Of course you, Mr Grantham, did pretty good by me your last time out: Rosenberg equals the government over business, the individual over government, the environment over everything. And the Indians? Oh, give 'em whatever they want.
Gray Grantham: Well with all due respects sir, that wasn't my line, that was a quote.

Edwin Newman: Where is Darby Shaw?
Gray Grantham: I think that's also a question for Darby Shaw, but I know that she's not available to answer questions as long as this "feed frenzy" continues.
Edwin Newman: Does that mean that you don't know where she is?
Gray Grantham: No I didn't say that.
Edwin Newman: Then you do know...
Gray Grantham: [laughs]
Edwin Newman: I, I take it this cryptic smile means you'll not answer...
Gray Grantham: [smirking uncontrollably]
Edwin Newman: Okay Gray, you know that in view of all this, you know that there's a lot of speculation that this woman is a figment of your imagination. That you created her, from a lot of different sources. Just as there are people who believe there was no Deep Throat, there are those who believe that there is no Darby Shaw. In other words, she's just too good to be true.
Gray Grantham: She almost is.

Synopsis: This role probably isn't Denzel's finest, but it definitely solidified his status as a leading man in Hollywood. This film is the first time that we see Denzel's extraordinary ability to excel in crime related dramas/thrillers.


2.) Jake Shuttlesworth in He Got Game (1998)



In this Spike Lee joint, Denzel plays the convict father of the best high school basketball player in the country (Ray Allen). The governor lets him out of prison for one week in the hopes that he can convince his son to attend my favorite fictitious college, Big State University(the governor's alma mater).

Most Memorable Lines:

Jake Shuttlesworth: That's right. Come on, come on. Work, baby. You got to work harder than the next man, right? It's the will of the man; it ain't the skill of the man. He can't play you. He can't do nothing with you! We the only two people up. Me, you and Michael Jordan. That's the only people. Everybody else in the world is asleep. What you think Jordan doing right now? He lifting weights right now.

Jesus Shuttlesworth: I hate my name. What kind of name is Jesus anyway?
Jake Shuttlesworth: It's biblical.

Jesus Shuttlesworth: God ain't shit!
Jake Shuttlesworth: Number one, why you gotta use this kinda language? What you some kinda heathen now? You don't make no mistakes? You be out here shootin', but you don't miss no shots ever? EVER? People make mistakes! People veer off the path! God forgives them!
Jesus Shuttlesworth: Has God forgiven you for killing my mother?
Jake Shuttlesworth: I pray that he has, son. I believe he has. When will you?

Jake Shuttlesworth: I pray you understand why I pushed you so hard! It was only to get you to that next level, Son. I mean, you's the first Shuttlesworth that's ever gonna make it out of these projects, and I was the one who who put the ball in your hand, Son! I put the ball in your crib!

Jake Shuttlesworth: I want you to go to Big State, Son. Jesus Shuttlesworth: Aw, Man, you just like everybody else.
Jake Shuttlesworth: No I'm not like everyone else, Son. Everyone else ain't your father.

Synopsis: Although this is an awesome movie (especially because former SU great John Wallace is in it), I don't think it's Denzel's signature role. Maybe it's me, but I just think Denzel is better when he's on the side of law enforcement.


3.) Alonzo Harris in Training Day (2001)



In ths Oscar winning role Denzel plays a twisted LAPD narcotics detective who shows a young up and comer (Ethan Hawke) the ropes of the day to day operations of his job. The street savvy detective shows the young cop how he bends the rules of the law to achieve street justice, but eventually his corrupt ways catch up to him.

Most Memorable Lines:

Alonzo Harris: Today's a training day, Officer Hoyt. Show you around, give you a taste of the business. I got 38 cases pending trial, 63 in active investigations, another 250 on the log I can't clear. I supervise five officers. That's five different personalities. Five sets of problems. You can be number six if you act now. But I ain't holding no hands, okay? I ain't baby-sitting. You got today and today only to show me who and what you're made of. You don't like narcotics, get the fuck out of my car. Go get you a nice, pussy desk job, chasing bad checks or something, you hear me?

Alonzo Harris: My nigga.

Jake Hoyt: That's street justice.
Alonzo Harris: What's wrong with street justice?
Jake Hoyt: Oh, what, so just let the animals wipe themselves out, right?
Alonzo Harris: God willing. Fuck 'em, and everybody that looks like 'em.

Alonzo Harris: It behoves you not to dick around on this one. Justifiable homicide in the line of duty? What happened was...
Jake Hoyt: What happened was murder... and armed robbery. Wait, we had badges, so it's different?
Alonzo Harris: Open your eyes, son. Can't you see?
Jake Hoyt: That man was your friend, and you killed him like a fly.
Alonzo Harris: Why is he my friend, because he knows my first name? Roger sold dope to kids. The world is a better place without him. This man was the biggest major violator in Los Angeles. This is the game. I'm playing his ass. That's my job. That's your job. I watched that cocksucker operate with impunity for over 10 years, and now I got him. The shit's chess, it ain't checkers. What, we all of a sudden gonna roll up in a black-and-white? Come on, man, take the money.
Jake Hoyt: I told you, I'm not gonna take that money.
Alonzo Harris: All right, burn it, barbecue it, fish-fry it, I don't give a fuck. But the boys'll feel better about it.
Jake Hoyt: Fuck their feelings.
Alonzo Harris: You're not making them feel like you're part of the team.
Jake Hoyt: The team? You guys are fuckin' insane. All right, I'll go back to the Valley. I'll cut parking tickets. Why does it have to be this way?
Alonzo Harris: I'm sorry I exposed you to it, but it is. It's ugly, but it's necessary... Sometimes you gotta have a little dirt on you for anybody to trust you.

Alonzo Harris: To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf.

Alonzo Harris: Aww, you motherfuckers. Okay. Alright. I'm putting cases on all you bitches. Huh. You think you can do this shit... Jake. You think you can do this to me? You motherfuckers will be playing basketball in Pelican Bay when I get finished with you. SHU program, nigga. 23 hour lockdown. I'm the man up in this piece. You'll never see the light of... who the fuck do you think you're fucking with? I'm the police, I run shit around here. You just live here. Yeah, that's right, you better walk away. Go on and walk away... 'cause I'm gonna' burn this motherfucker down. King Kong ain't got shit on me. That's right, that's right. Shit, I don't, fuck. I'm winning anyway, I'm winning... I'm winning any motherfucking way. I can't lose. Yeah, you can shoot me, but you can't kill me.

Synopsis: The first time I saw this movie I wasn't exactly blown away by Denzel's performance, but the second time I watched it I saw why he won the Oscar. Is this his best? Some say yes, but I'm not so sure. As you know, I'm the whitest kid in America, but I think I agree with what the rapper Jadakiss said in his song "Why".

"Why Halle have to let a white man pop her to get a Oscar
Why Denzel have to be crooked before he took it."


4.) Creasy in Man on Fire (2004)



In this film Denzel plays a retired CIA operative (do I even have to say anything else?) that is hired to protect the daughter of wealthy couple in Mexico City. He forms a strong bond with the girl (Dakota Fanning) and after she is kidnapped he goes on an absolute rampage of vengeance.

Most Memorable Lines:

Elderly Man: In the church, they say to forgive.
Creasy: Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting.

Lisa: What are you gonna do?
Creasy: What I do best. I'm gonna kill 'em. Anyone that was involved. Anybody who profited from it. Anybody who opens their eyes at me.

Creasy: The gunshot holds no fear, say it.
Pita: The gunshot holds no fear.
Creasy: You welcome the sound. In fact it's the sound that sets you free. You are a prisoner on this block until that sound sets you free.

Creasy: Okay, my friend. It's off to the next life for you. I guarantee you, you won't be lonely.

Creasy: Do you know what this is? It’s a charger used by convicts to hide money and drugs they tuck it up their rectum. This is pencil detonator, timer, used as a receiver from the pager. This is C4 highly explosive; you put it all together you've got a bomb, not very sophisticated, but very powerful.
Creasy: [whispers in his ear] That's what you have in your ass right now.

Synopsis: Could you see anyone else playing this role? I know I couldn't. Denzel shows us the full range of emotions as Creasy. He goes from a disgruntled former CIA operative with no reason to live to a caring bodyguard/father figure type to a vindictive, cold hearted killer all within 2 and a half hours. The only thing this role lacks is a romantic element, but the lack of one only enhances how badass the character is.


5.) Detective Keith Frazier in Inside Man (2006)



In this Spike Lee joint Denzel plays a hostage negotiator who is called into duty when a NYC bank is hijacked by a slew of robbers. When the conventional methods of negotiating go awry, Denzel's character decides to enter the bank and confront the hijacker face to face.

Most Memorable Lines:

Dalton Russell: Soon I'm gonna be sucking down piña coladas in a hot tub with six girls named Amber and Tiffany.
Keith Frazier: No, it's more like in the shower with two guys named Jamal and Jesus... and here's the bad news; that thing you're sucking on? It's not a piña colada!

Keith Frazier: Alright, I've got them right where I want 'em.
Det. Bill Mitchell: Where's that?
Keith Frazier: Right behind me with my pants around my ankles, but it's a start.

Keith Frazier: Oh, please, do not say proposals... my girlfriend... she wants a proposal from me.
Dalton Russell: You think you're too young to get married?
Keith Frazier: No, I'm not too young... too broke. Maybe I should rob a bank.
Dalton Russell: Do you love each other?
Keith Frazier: Yeah, yeah, we do.
Dalton Russell: Then money shouldn't really matter.
Keith Frazier: Thank you, bank robber!

Keith Frazier: Sorry to interrupt you, Mister Mayor, but there's an old American saying: When there's blood on the streets, somebody's gotta go to jail.

Madeliene White: Well detective, there are matters at stake here that are a little bit above your pay grade. No offense.
Keith Frazier: Well, why don't you just tell the mayor to raise my pay grade to the proper level, and problem solved.

Synopsis: Denzel is in his wheelhouse as a hostage negotiator in this movie, but I think Clive Owen outshines him a little bit. Either way, it's a fntastic movie. I particularly enjoy the word play involved in the movie's title.