Always ready to role

There are entertainers who are good, performers who are great and then actors who transcend all forms of portrayal and superstardom to become iconic figures. On top of that, somehow, there is Denzel Washington, a man who tackles every performance like it’s a wild, raging bull, and then tames it and makes it entirely his.

Washington makes an audience believe in his portrayals — he turns a character on paper into a real, living person onscreen. He is a man whose IMDB list is among the most impressive to ever be assembled. And in this ranking, we recognize his greatness with a comprehensive ranking of his many film roles.

We begin with ... THE WHAT WERE YOU THINKING (?) PERFORMANCES

This film had potential to be an action movie hit, but it was ruined by a cringeworthy script and John Travolta’s handlebar moustache. Even Denzel couldn’t save it. Also, something else that must be mentioned: this was the worst ever onscreen instance of Denzel holding a gun in a movie. He points one at Travolta at the end of Pelham, and does so with no authority. The best case of Denzel holding a gun in a movie? Training Day, when he pulls out dual Smith & Wessons and tells a guy he’s going to shoot his private parts off. for.

This is possibly my personal favourite version of Denzel, albeit I’ll admit not the best version. He is Dad-zel, Coachzel and Teacher-zel all in one. He moulds young men into partial versions of what they will hopefully become, leads his football team to a state championship after one of his best players becomes paralyzed, and he brings together white and black players that had been divided by a strict racial line. And he does it all while maintaining a heroic wit about him.