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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 16:35:53 GMT
...he plays a character very different than usual? I'll explain what I mean but honestly the last thing I want is this thread to become another Denzel-love-or-hate battlefield... Now, you might know (or not...) I really like Washington, I think he's very talented with a strong screen presence. In fact, he's one of the best actors alive, I won't rank him or anything, it's a game I don't wanna play. But I had some thoughts a few days ago and I discovered it's not easy for me to find a role he played in which he was "out of the usual". What I mean is, I'd like to see him do something REALLY different than, say, a badass cop or villiain. Something other than a wise (or smartass) guy. A role without power, authority or clout. Maybe a not-so-clever guy (for example Razzo Rizzo in Papillon?). A man in the edge of a breakdown or depression (like Jack in About Schmidt?). Someone not very mentally stable (like De Niro in King of Comedy?). (Actually, not a part Morgan Freeman would usually play, if that helps ) I don't know if my question is clear enough, my English is not very good. By no means, I don't mean to diminish him or anything. And I'm not mind about the genre, ie. comedy or something like that ("he hasn't done any" or maybe "yes, he has", I don't care). What he's been doing, he's doing it better than most. I just want to watch him in a role out of the ordinary, out of his comfort zone, a kind of role he hasn't done a lot. Now, I've seen many of his films so there's no point in listing what I've already watched. But there are many DW movies I've yet to see and I know many ppl in here have watched most of his film work. I'd appreciate any recommendations because I'm pretty sure there are such movies that I don't know of or I forget about them. And once again, please don't start fighting about his pros and cons, his filmography etc. I'm just making an honest question here. Guys, please, DON"T!!!Thanx
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Post by pupdurcs on Jul 19, 2021 16:47:38 GMT
Awww shit....here we go again!!!!! Not sure a new thread was needed for this.Let's be honest, we've has these conversations (many times) before already in the MAR Denzel Diaspora Wars of 2017-2020, and I very much doubt anything new is going to be said, but the most obvious example is a recent one, his 2017 Oscar nominated turn as Roman J Israel Esq, in which he plays a Rain Man type savant on the autistic spectrum, with zero social skills. The most "uncool" character he has ever played. He also gets bullied and beaten up.A gigantic dork! He played a completely mentally unstable/ill character in The Manchurian Candidate, and his mental instability and deterioration over the course of the film was pretty uncomfortable to watch. He has no control here and is essentially a pawn. The Preacher's Wife. One of his least intense roles. An almost child-like character in a Romantic Comedy.
Just three examples. If you dig deep into his filmography, he has more or less covered every character type at some point. He has his more usual archetype that he does more often than not, but then again, so do Pacino, DeNiro etc.
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Jul 19, 2021 17:31:28 GMT
Aside from the aforementioned flicks, I'd also recommend Mo Better Blues, and The Great Debaters, if you wanna see more more straightforward sympathetic roles from Washington, that aren't just him being great at his job. He does a lot of these thriller type flicks because there what make him cash, but like any serious actor, he's more then willing to go out of his comfort zone.
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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 17:38:14 GMT
Awww shit....here we go again!!!!! Not sure a new thread was needed for this.Let's be honest, we've has these conversations (many times) before already in the MAR Denzel Diaspora Wars of 2017-2020, and I very much doubt anything new is going to be said, but the most obvious example is a recent one, his 2017 Oscar nominated turn as Roman J Israel Esq, in which he plays a Rain Man type savant on the autistic spectrum, with zero social skills. The most "uncool" character he has ever played. He also gets bullied and beaten up.A gigantic dork! He played a completely mentally unstable/ill character in The Manchurian Candidate, and his mental instability and deterioration over the course of the film was pretty uncomfortable to watch. He has no control here and is essentially a pawn. The Preacher's Wife. One of his least intense roles. An almost child-like character in a Romantic Comedy.
Just three examples. If you dig deep into his filmography, he has more or less covered every character type at some point. He has his more usual archetype that he does more often than not, but then again, so do Pacino, DeNiro etc. I thought I should start another topic because my question is pretty specific and because I thought I would destroy an already existing thread with my query (as if, there is a Denzel thread not already destroyed ) Roman Israel is the first that came to mind while I was typing my post tbh but I have only watched it once back in 2017, I do need a re-watch. The Manchurian Candidate I haven't seen (I think...), thanks for pointing it out for me. But The Preacher's Wife, I have watched and I'm not sure I agree with you. Yes, it's not an intense role but... well... he's a man of power you know! And he acts that way. Maybe I'm affected by Cary Grant's performance (whom I love...) in the original film.
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Post by pacinoyes on Jul 19, 2021 17:38:16 GMT
I'm not a fan of Roman Israel - to me that was a ludicrous nomination - he's fine but not special to me.....I'd say He Got Game is one of them - he plays a genuine scary guy and he plays it in way that's pretty gripping..........I rank it as his 3rd best performance ever behind Malcolm X and Fences but those are more on the page roles and He Got Game is off the page and great.....
I'd also say for a gentle performance Mississippi Masala is a good one and a very controlled one....
Side note : Fnck this sh it below - go make the thread somewhere else then I'm sure GoldDerby would like to have you and your Dad lecture .......
And once again, please don't start fighting about his pros and cons, his filmography etc. I'm just making an honest question here
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Post by pupdurcs on Jul 19, 2021 17:54:33 GMT
Awww shit....here we go again!!!!! Not sure a new thread was needed for this.Let's be honest, we've has these conversations (many times) before already in the MAR Denzel Diaspora Wars of 2017-2020, and I very much doubt anything new is going to be said, but the most obvious example is a recent one, his 2017 Oscar nominated turn as Roman J Israel Esq, in which he plays a Rain Man type savant on the autistic spectrum, with zero social skills. The most "uncool" character he has ever played. He also gets bullied and beaten up.A gigantic dork! He played a completely mentally unstable/ill character in The Manchurian Candidate, and his mental instability and deterioration over the course of the film was pretty uncomfortable to watch. He has no control here and is essentially a pawn. The Preacher's Wife. One of his least intense roles. An almost child-like character in a Romantic Comedy.
Just three examples. If you dig deep into his filmography, he has more or less covered every character type at some point. He has his more usual archetype that he does more often than not, but then again, so do Pacino, DeNiro etc. I thought I should start another topic because my question is pretty specific and because I thought I would destroy an already existing thread with my query (as if, there is a Denzel thread not already destroyed ) Roman Israel is the first that came to mind while I was typing my post tbh but I have only watched it once back in 2017, I do need a re-watch. The Manchurian Candidate I haven't seen (I think...), thanks for pointing it out for me. But The Preacher's Wife, I have watched and I'm not sure I agree with you. Yes, it's not an intense role but... well... he's a man of power you know! And he acts that way. Maybe I'm affected by Cary Grant's performance (whom I love...) in the original film. The fact that The Preacher's Wife isn’t an intense role makes it out of the usual for Denzel. I think being a "man of power" is almost irrelevant to how he has to act, compared to what you are more used to seeing from him. He has to be sweet, innocent and almost child-like in his enthusiasm, which are not really qualities he usually projects in other roles. I would have given him the Oscar for Roman J Israel Esq (at least in the group he was nominated with) . An incredible performance and such a successful turn "against type", and I think had the film been better received, he'd have had a real chance to win with that performance. I think what was most gratifying was reviewers with Autism/Aspergers actually praising Washington for giving one of the best and most believable portyals of their condition they 'd seen in a movie. the-art-of-autism.com/a-lawyer-with-aspergers-a-review-of-roman-j-israel-esq/nosmag.org/1182-2/
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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 18:31:28 GMT
Aside from the aforementioned flicks, I'd also recommend Mo Better Blues, and The Great Debaters, if you wanna see more more straightforward sympathetic roles from Washington, that aren't just him being great at his job. He does a lot of these thriller type flicks because there what make him cash, but like any serious actor, he's more then willing to go out of his comfort zone. I've seen MBB, gonna try The Debaters. Thanks.
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sirchuck23
Based
Bad news dawg...you don't mind if I have some of your 300 dollar a glass shit there would ya?
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Post by sirchuck23 on Jul 19, 2021 18:32:12 GMT
In addition to the ones scrud and therealcomicman mentioned, I would also suggest these:
Much Ado About Nothing
He plays Don Pedro in the Shakespeare film adaption that is lighter than his serious badass roles.
Mississippi Masala
Probably his most romantic and sexual role in this Romeo and Juliet type romantic dramedy. The chemistry between him and Sarita Choudhoury is dynamite!
Cry Freedom
Not sure if you've seen Cry Freedom or not Terry, but if you haven't I would recommend this as well. He plays real-life South African activist Steve Biko in his first Oscar-nominated performance providing a nuanced portrayal of the man with a good South African accent. Its a shame the movie wasn't about him entirely.
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Post by quetee on Jul 19, 2021 18:36:47 GMT
In addition to the ones scrud and therealcomicman mentioned, I would also suggest these: Much Ado About Nothing He plays Don Pedro in the Shakespeare film adaption that is lighter than his serious badass roles. Mississippi Masala Probably his most romantic and sexual role in this Romeo and Juliet type romantic dramedy. The chemistry between him and Sarita Choudhoury is dynamite! Cry Freedom Not sure if you've seen Cry Freedom or not Terry, but if you haven't I would recommend this as well. He plays real-life South African activist Steve Biko in his first Oscar-nominated performance providing a nuanced portrayal of the man with a good South African accent. Its a shame the movie wasn't about him entirely. Is Much Ado the movie where white women were like, well damn or was it The Pelican Brief? LMAO.
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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 18:52:23 GMT
I'm not a fan of Roman Israel - to me that was a ludicrous nomination - he's fine but not special to me.....I'd say He Got Game is one of them - he plays a genuine scary guy and he plays it in way that's pretty gripping..........I rank it as his 3rd best performance ever behind Malcolm X and Fences but those are more on the page roles and He Got Game is off the page and great..... I'd also say for a gentle performance Mississippi Masala is a good one and a very controlled one.... Side note : Fnck this sh it below - go make the thread somewhere else then I'm sure GoldDerby would like to have you and your Dad lecture ....... And once again, please don't start fighting about his pros and cons, his filmography etc. I'm just making an honest question here
Only thing I know about Mississippi Masala is that Denzel is in it... I've seen He Got Game. Not a fan of his perf or the movie itself although I think it's fine.
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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 18:57:39 GMT
In addition to the ones scrud and therealcomicman mentioned, I would also suggest these: Much Ado About Nothing He plays Don Pedro in the Shakespeare film adaption that is lighter than his serious badass roles. Mississippi Masala Probably his most romantic and sexual role in this Romeo and Juliet type romantic dramedy. The chemistry between him and Sarita Choudhoury is dynamite! Cry Freedom Not sure if you've seen Cry Freedom or not Terry, but if you haven't I would recommend this as well. He plays real-life South African activist Steve Biko in his first Oscar-nominated performance providing a nuanced portrayal of the man with a good South African accent. Its a shame the movie wasn't about him entirely. As I just said, I know nothing about Masala. I'll visit it. I've seen Much Ado and Cry Freedom but it's been ages since then. Especially Cry Freedom, I don't remember a thing!! The way I used to see it back then, his performance has many similarities to his Malcolm X. But I don't really remember, maybe I'm totally wrong.
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Post by theycallmemrfish on Jul 19, 2021 19:47:37 GMT
A movie which doesn't get talked about enough... Courage Under Fire.
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Post by TerryMontana on Jul 19, 2021 19:56:11 GMT
A movie which doesn't get talked about enough... Courage Under Fire. Seen this The usual Denzel here imo.
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