Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington Movies: His Best Roles Yet

by

Denzel Washington started his acting career in the 1980s. Since stepping into Hollywood, he has been involved in noteworthy films. Washington has won several awards and is often recognized for his roles in pushing the culture forward. His résumé is stacked with movies that have been blockbusters or gone on to win awards. There are too many to choose from when constructing a list of his best. However, we’ve managed to reel in nine standouts.

9. The Great Debaters (2007)

Some of Denzel Washington’s best work is when he depicts a real person. In The Great Debaters, he takes on the persona of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson of Wiley Coach. Not only does Washington star in it, but he also directed the 2007 film. This is one of his more important roles as the movie circulates around an all-Black college that defeats Harvard University in an academic debate. The plot is based on a true story, in which Denzel delivers a performance that shines a light on an essential fact in Black History and American History.

8. Inside Man (2006)

Some may want to see the bad guys get away, and some don’t. In Inside Man, Washington was up against a criminal mastermind he was no match for. It’s safe to say that Washington is comfortable portraying a police officer. However, this time, he isn’t dirty. Also, he once again works with director Spike Lee. This is their fourth movie together as they have collaborated on Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, and He Got Game. This might be their best one yet.

7. Philadelphia (1993)

Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks joined forces early in their career. Long before they became the men they are today, the two starred in Philadelphia. Hanks plays a gay man suing his employer for firing him because he has AIDS. Washington portrays his lawyer, who was initially unwilling to take the case. This is one of the first big-screen Hollywood films to shed light on many certain shunned issues. Philadelphia touched on LGBTQ issues, HIV/AIDS epidemic, and discrimination.

6. Training Day (2001)

Training Day might be Denzel’s most popular role. Everyone remembers Alonzo screaming, “King Kong ain’t got s*** on me!” Time and time again, Washington proves that there isn’t a role he can’t conquer. Playing a dirty cop, you hated him and were relieved when he was murdered. Washington made you feel a way with this role, as many people will always discuss Training Day when discussing the actor’s career. The two main actors in the film, Washington and Ethan Hawke, won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

5. American Gangster (2007)

There is not a role that Denzel Washington can’t play. Whether he’s a fighter, pilot, coach, or cop, Washington makes it look effortless. He does it again in American Gangster as he plays notorious Harlem crime boss Frank Lucas. In another biopic for Washington, he embodies Lucas. It’s almost as if the characters and the setting aren’t new to him. After all, he is from New York, so he may be familiar with tales of Lucas’s street life moves. 

4. Glory (1989)

In 1989, Denzel received his first Oscar for his role in Glory. He won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Private Silas Trip. In Glory, the film focuses on Black men’s contributions to the Civil War. It was one of the first big-screen Hollywood movies to shed light on Black soldiers then. This was just the beginning for Washington.

3. Malcolm X (1992)

The way Denzel portrays real people is unmatched. In Malcolm X, he acts and narrates the story of the late-great activist. From the slick back hair to the speech, Washington makes for the splitting image of Malcolm. With Denzel portraying one of the most influential figures in history, he may have had similar views to Malcolm. The film earned Washington an Oscar nomination.

2. Fences (2016)

Decades later and he still knows how to give life to a character. In 2016, Denzel shone as Troy in Fences, with Viola Davis playing Rose, his wife. The film received several nominations and took home a few awards. In fact, Washington himself won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play.  Fences was originally a play that first opened in 1985. It was revived in 2010 on Broadway. Washington and Davis starred in the play as well. Washington also won Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture for the film.

1. Remember the Titans (2000)

Denzel Washington simply excelled as Coach Herman Boone in Remember the Titans. Based on a true story, Washington embodies Coach Boone’s hard-nosed leadership attributes. It’s easy to get sucked into this film as you might even believe Washington really coaches high school football or has before. Remember the Titans is easily one of the best sports films ever.  A movie about a team coming together during the time of segregation is powerful to see. Washington leads the way with an all-time performance.

[via]

Denzel Washington Remembers Not Remembering Meeting Drake When The Rapper Was Just A Young Boy In Toronto

by
Denzel Washington Drake 2015
Getty Image

Drake is one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers now, but once upon a time, he was just another kid growing up in Toronto. During that time, though, Drake met a global star in Denzel Washington, who recently spoke about the encounter in a new interview with Good Morning America.

Towards the end of the segment, Washington told the story:

“You just never know who you touch. I met a kid in Toronto who came up and was fascinated because I was like this star, and he wanted to talk to me, and he couldn’t believe that he met me. Well, 10 or 15 years later, he came up and he said, ‘You don’t remember when you met me.’ I said, ‘No.’ His name is Drake. And he said what I said to him, he never forgot.”

Washington was on the show to discuss the Boys & Girls Clubs opening its 5,000th location, since he’s a spokesperson for the organization who benefited from it as a child. He explained, “I was that 6-year-old kid that was nervous. What am I now? I’m still that 6-year-old, wide-eyed kid who’s curious about life. I was being taught about grace, about winning with grace and losing with grace, and being a leader and all of these things.”

Check out the segment above.

Denzel Washington Speaks About Meeting A Young Drake

by

Denzel Washington and Drake have an interesting history. It primarily revolves around a tattoo the rapper got of the actor in 2017. The tattoo was a Denzel deep cut, referencing the Spike Lee-directed Mo’ Better Blues. However, despite a bemused reaction from Denzel, nothing really came of the viral moment.

But what if there was another connection between the two celebrities? In this case, one that dated all the way back to Drake’s childhood in Toronto? A recent interview with Denzel appears to point to that being the case.

Denzel Recalls Meeting Drake As A Child

Appearing on Good Morning America, Denzel recalled a story from the early 90s with a surprise celebrity cameo. “I met a kid in Toronto, who came up and was fascinated with me because I was like this star and he wanted to talk to me and he couldn’t believe that he met me. Well, 10 or 15 years later, he came up and he said “you don’t remember when you met me” I said no. His name is Drake.” The meeting came at a Boys and Girls Club in Toronto. Denzel has been a spokesperson for the charity for over 30 years and was on GMA to celebrate the opening of the 5000th Boys and Girls Club. Prior to his appearance on GMA, he delivered a keynote speech at the newest location. The Boys and Girls Club seeks to provide safe community spaces and opportunities for young people.

But Denzel, who was speaking on never knowing whose life you might affect, had more to say about the rapper, “He said what I said to him and he never forgot.” Denzel didn’t share what he told Drake all those years ago but it’s clear that the meeting with and the advice that Denzel gave him as a child helped Drake become the man he is today. It’s a powerful and heartfelt story about the power that idols and role models can have. Denzel has seen the Boys and Girls Club add 3000 locations during his 30 years as spokesperson. The 5000th location was opened in Elgin, Illinois. With this new revelation, maybe Drake would be willing to share the advice Denzel gave him that inspired him so much.

[via]

Gervonta Davis Earns Praise From Denzel Washington

by

Gervonta Davis is easily one of the best boxers in the entire world right now. Overall, he is an undefeated world champion who continues to gain critical acclaim. In fact, he is set to take on Ryan Garcia next month. This is going to be the biggest fight of his entire career. Although Davis is undefeated, there is this narrative that he hasn’t fought anyone worthwhile. Consequently, he has received quite a bit of criticism. This fight against Garcia is meant to show the world that he can beat top-tier fighters, and he can do it convincingly.

This past week, Davis and Garcia even had their first press conference for the fight. Overall, it was very interesting to watch. These two have a lot of bad blood between each other, and it should make for an amazing fight. Additionally, Davis is going into the match as a huge favorite. This will certainly motivate Garcia who now has to deal with the underdog label. That said, Davis is making sure that he still engages in some leisure time ahead of the fight. For instance, he was in L.A. last night to watch the Lakers play the Knicks.

Gervonta Davis x Denzel Washington

In the end, it was the New York Knicks who came out victorious. However, for Davis, it was a big night when you consider who he got to meet courtside. In the video clip above, Davis could be seen chopping it up with none other than legendary actor Denzel Washington. Washington was attending the game with Spike Lee, instead of attending the Oscars. As you can see, Washington had nothing but praise for Davis. The actor told the boxer that he loves him, and you could tell that Tank was loving every second of it.

Davis is someone whose fights are absolutely box office. He is a massive draw, and this fight against Ryan Garcia will only increase his status in the boxing world. Whether or not he will be able to quiet down the doubters, remains to be seen. Let us know who you have winning the Garcia Vs. Davis fight, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

Denzel Washington & Spike Lee Trade Oscars For Knicks Game

by

Denzel Washington is someone who typically finds themselves at the Oscars around this time of year. Overall, Washington is one of the best actors in Hollywood. Moreover, his performances are typically good enough to get him nominated. The same can be said of director Spike Lee. Lee is a legend of Hollywood, and he has won some massive awards throughout his career. Last night, one would have expected these two to be at The Oscars. Although, they opted to take their talents somewhere else, understandably so.

Neither Denzel nor Lee were nominated for anything. That said, why bother attending the ceremony? Instead, they decided to combine their interests and head to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Of course, Spike Lee loves his New York Knicks. Additionally, Denzel Washington is a big Lakers fan. Both of those teams were playing each other last night, so it only makes sense that they would link up. As you can see below, both sat next to each other courtside, and they were all smiles for the cameras.

Denzel Washington & Spike Lee

Overall, it feels as though Denzel Washington and Spike Lee made the right choice. The Lakers and the Knicks ultimately engaged in a fantastic game. In the end, the Knicks won by four points in a final score of 112-108. Although it was a rough night for Washington, it was a joyous night for Spike Lee. His Knicks are currently on a roll, and they seem to have a shot at a playoff run. Moreover, the Oscars were dominated by Everything Everywhere All At Once and bad Will Smith jokes. Simply put, these two men did not miss a single thing.

As for the Lakers, they are still trying to secure a playoff spot right now. Overall, they have been fantastic over the last 10 games. However, they are still in a play-in position which means the postseason is not guaranteed. That said, if LeBron can come back soon, then their fortunes will be overturned. Meanwhile, the Knicks are having a season to remember, and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.

[Via]

[WATCH] Jay-Z Seen Trying To Calm Down Denzel Washington At Lakers Game

by
Screen Shot 2023 02 10 at 7.35.35 PM

At the game between the L.A. Lakers and the OKC Thunder, NBA living legend LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time leading scorer record in front of a host of celebrities, including Denzel Washington and Jay-Z.

Sometime after the game, Hov is seen attempting to gain the attention of Denzel, who seemed to be engaged in an argument with someone else, ignoring Jay-Z’s attempts to get Washington to calm down. From there, Washington doubled back to Jay-Z, and the two began to laugh.

See the entire exchange below.

The post [WATCH] Jay-Z Seen Trying To Calm Down Denzel Washington At Lakers Game appeared first on The Source.

Jay-Z Hangs With Denzel Washington, Holds Him Back At Lakers Game

by

Jay-Z and Denzel Washington recently had a good time at the Lakers game, although maybe something almost went down. Moreover, such suspicion comes from a recently surfaced video of the two together. In the clip, the New York MC talks to Denzel as the latter approaches a conversation with somebody else. For what it’s worth, the star actor seems fiery, but that might just be his professional chops. Then, Jay tries to pull him back from that conversation, which is unclear whether it’s a light, playful, or legitimately confrontational. Still, as Washington pushes Jay away, he laughs and greets someone else. Not long after, the two return to their one-on-one.

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: (U.S. TABS OUT) Actor Denzel Washington (L) and rapper Jay-Z appear onstage during MTV’s Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on November 20, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Furthermore, both attended the soon-to-be legendary game in which LeBron James broke the all-time NBA scoring record. As such, many fans and publications online shared interactions between the Lakers star and the long-reigning MC. While plenty of other stars surely attended, getting Hov’s praise and respect is a big moment for any athlete. Or person, for that matter. Out of all the stars in Hollywood, though, Denzel is absolutely on a similarly iconic level. After so many iconic roles in films like Training Day and American Gangster, he’s one of the most respected names in the business.

Moreover, Jay had much to celebrate, following a massive week full of big moments and high-profile appearances. For example, he performed the track “GOD DID” alongside DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, John Legend, and Fridayy at the Grammys. Also, his attendance gave us one of the more notable and perhaps iconic moments at the 65th annual awards ceremony. While Method Man graced the stage for hip-hop’s 50th anniversary celebration, Hov rapped “Method Man” word-for-word from the crowd. Even if you’re not a huge rap listener, it was a pretty sweet and borderline emotional moment. After all, these artists are just as big of a fan as anyone else could be.

Meanwhile, hopefully the interaction between Jay-Z and Denzel Washington was more in jest than in rage. Most people can only dream of knowing what goes on courtside at the Lakers. For now, they can just bask in the FOMO and look forward to more larger-than-life celebrity meet-ups. On that note, come back to HNHH for the latest on Jay-Z, Denzel Washington, and famous faces sitting courtside.

T.I. Says He is a Combination of JAY-Z, 2Pac, and Two More Hip-Hop Icons

by
T.I. Recalls On Set Advice from Denzel Washington During 'American Gangster' Rehearsals

T.I. is undoubtedly the King of the South and a Hip-Hop legend. If you were to ask him who he is a combination of, his answer would be four titans of our genre: JAY-Z, 2Pac, Diddy and Snoop Dogg.

During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, T.I. revealed that he sees his legends in his composition.

“I see myself as a hybrid kind of between, I guess, Jay, ‘Pac, Puff and like a Snoop, you know what I’m saying?” T.I. said. “I kind of hop in and out and take pages out of the book of legends, and I’ve been fortunate enough and blessed enough to be able to have these relationships where I could sit and engage and soak up game.”

T.I. would give more love to people like E-40, Master P, Jay Prince, and more in the conversation.

In the same conversation, T.I. recalled the year 2007, when he found himself alongside Denzel Washington in the film classic American Gangster.

T.I. played the nephew of Washington’s character, Frank Lucas, who was ditching a promising baseball future aside to join the family drug business.

T.I. recalls the moment Washington coached him through a scene and helped him combat his nerves.

“As we’re rehearsing I’m pacing back and forth,” T.I. said. “And he said, ‘What’s up, n-gga, You nervous?’ I’m like, ‘Man, I’m just making sure I don’t mess it up.’

“He said, ‘Here man, listen. They could have had anybody in here doing what you’re doing right now. They could have anybody in the world, they could have called anybody right here to do what you’re doing.’”

You can check out the full conversation below.

Flash forward to today, T.I. is still in his acting bag. Hitting theaters this weekend, T.I. will star alongside Power’s Joseph Sikora in the psychological horror film, Fear.

This psychological horror film follows a group of friends who gather for that typical friends weekend getaway at a remote and historic hotel. Their celebration takes a terrifying quick and sudden turn as each one of the guests has to face their own worst fear one by one thanks to a powerful force inside the hotel. The trailer shows the group sharing their biggest fears—some of which we can all relate to.

You can see the trailer below.

via

The post T.I. Says He is a Combination of JAY-Z, 2Pac, and Two More Hip-Hop Icons appeared first on The Source.

T.I. Recalls Denzel Washington’s Advice On Set Of “American Gangster”

by

T.I. recently reflected on his work on American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington. Speaking with Shannon Sharpe during an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast, T.I. recalled some advice the legendary actor gave him.

“As we’re rehearsing, I’m pacing back and forth, pacing back and forth,” he told the former NFL star. “And he said, ‘What’s up, n***a? You nervous?’ I’m like, ‘Man, I’m just making sure I don’t mess it up.’”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 07: T.I. onstage during 2022 InvestFest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 07, 2022 in Atlanta. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

T.I. continued: “He said, ‘Here man, listen. They could have had anybody in here doing what you’re doing right now. They could have anybody in the world, they could have called anybody right here to do what you’re doing.’”

T.I. further elaborated: “I said, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ He said, ‘They called you for a reason didn’t they?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘You know what that reason is?’ I started thinking and I said, ‘Yeah, I do.’”

From there, Washington remarked to T.I., “‘Alright then, do that and you ain’t got no reason to be nervous.’”

T.I.’s role in American Gangster was one of his earliest movie appearances. Other rappers appeared in the film as well, including Common and RZA.

Speaking with MTV back in 2007, T.I. previously said: “It’s like when a Hip Hop fan hears a song like [DJ Khaled‘s] ‘We Takin’ Over’ and you hear all your favorites and you hear them at their best.”

American Gangster was directed by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott and featured an all-star cast. In addition to T.I., Washington, RZA, and Common, it stars Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Cuba Gooding Jr., among others.

Revisit the trailer for American Gangster below.

[Via]