Close Menu
    Movies

    Denzel Washington Shares a Harsh Appraisal of One Particular Part of His Career

    4 Mins Read2 Views
    Denzel Washington Shares a Harsh Appraisal of One Particular Part of His Career

    Denzel Washington is regarded as one of the greatest actors working in Hollywood, but according to him, he has had plenty of lows in his incredible career. In Washington’s opinion, this is something that was true following his acclaimed performance in Spike Lee’s 1992 movie Malcolm X.




    During an interview with The Times, Washington addressed the huge expectation that was put on him following his career-defining role. He explained that the pressure of trying to live up to certain standards, and his own need to remain active in the industry, led him to star in some movies that did not “hit home runs.” He said:

    “After Malcolm X, I made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names. They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities. In life, you learn, earn and then you return — as in give back. So if your life is 90 years long, up until 30 you learn and from 30 to 60 you earn… so in that era I was earning. With a great agent, my career built into making money and so the earning kicked in and then life also kicked in, with bills, four kids and a house …”


    Despite Washington’s appraisal of his ‘90s career is perhaps a little harsh. His appearances included The Pelican Brief, Courage Under Fire, Crimson Tide, and The Preacher’s Wife. It seems that Washington’s low point certainly does not read like a Nicolas Cage low point. Perhaps this just proves that everyone is often their own worst critic.


    Denzel Washington is Back on the Oscar Trail with Gladiator II

    Although Washington has clearly had some minor missteps in his long career, he has proven to be a consistent actor to a point that his name appearing on a cast list immediately elevates any project. After hits such as Training Day, which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, Man on Fire, and Fences, which he also directed, Washington is now stepping into the Roman arena as slave owner Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.


    Although the movie does not hit cinemas until next week, critics’ reviews have not come without a lot of praise for Washington’s “consummate professional” presence in the story, with many suggesting that another Oscar win may well be on the cards. Although that is still a little way off, it is just another sign that, despite his own misgivings, it is hard to ever expect to walk into a movie and expect a bad Denzel Washington performance.

    Related

    All of Denzel Washington’s Biographical Movies, Ranked

    Denzel Washington has an affinity for biopics, and here is how his films based on real-life figures rank against each other.


    Washington recently revealed that he will be adding a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to his resume, in the yet-to-be officially announced Black Panther 3. While Washington admitted that he currently has no idea what the role will involve, how big it will be, or whether he should even have mentioned it – he did admit to apologizing to writer Ryan Coogler for “breaking” the news that Black Panther 3 is even in development – it is just another exciting project for fans to look forward to from one of the greatest actors of all-time.

    Related Posts