Denzel Washingtonis one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, having starred in iconic films such asMalcolm X,Philadelphia, andRemember the Titans. His roles in the aforementioned films are all heroic, admirable figures, which make it easy for the audience to root for him. Therefore,audiences usually trust Washington’s characters in movies. However, while he is not typically known for playing bad characters,Washington has played villainson a few occasions.
Washginton has played villains in movies likeJohn Q.,American Gangster, andThe Tragedy of Macbeth. However, one specific 2001 movie showcases Washington in his greatest villain role ever, and evenearned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Throughout the course ofTraining Day, audiences learned not to trustDenzel Washington’s characterat all, as he played a corrupt detective. 23 years on, this performance remains the pinnacle of Washington’s villain acting career.
Why Training Day Is Denzel Washington’s Greatest Performance As A Villain
Denzel Washington’s Alonzo Toys With Jake Throughout Training Day
In addition to Washington, theTraining Dayalso stars Ethan Hawke, who plays Jake, an LAPD officer who is assigned to ride along with Washington’s Alonzo for a day ahead of a promotion. Jake is desperate to impress Alonzo, a highly-decorated detective, butquickly realizes that Washington’s character isn’t who he appears to be on the surface. It is this complexity, coupled with the fact that Alonzo represents the corruption of a system designed to protect, that makes the character both beguiling and abhorrent.
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Macbeth
Alonzo constantly messes with Jake as they embark on their day together. Early in the film, he even forces Jake to smoke marijuana which is laced with PCP, causing him to hallucinate throughout much of the movie. As more of the day unfolds, it becomes clear thatthe story is as much about Jake discovering injustices within the system he has sworn to uphold as it is about his complex relationship with Washington’s character. Alonzo Harris' role as an avatar for these broader themes makes him much more potent as a villain than Washington’s other comparable performances.
However, like many other great villains throughout movie history,Alonzo has a superiority complex, and refuses to go down without a fight. During the ending ofTraining Day, after several gang members betray Alonzo and side with Jake to take the corrupt detective down, Washington’s character still believes he’s untouchable. This leads to one ofDenzel Washington’s most iconic speeches, during which Alonzo amusingly claims that “King King ain’t got s*** on me.” However,Alonzo ultimately ends up dying at the end ofTraining Day, giving his story a baroquely tragic arc that few Washington characters can match.
Training Day Proves Denzel Washington Could’ve Played More Movie Villains During His Career
Denzel Washington Prefers To Play The Good Guy, But Does Have A Dark Side
InTraining Day, Washington plays the corrupt, menacing Alonzo with such unhinged authority that it seems obvious thatthe actor could have played many more villains in his career. Throughout the film, there are many times when Jake truly feels trapped, and even though a lot of Alonzo’s decisions are very sloppy, it does seem like he has such a strong grasp on Los Angeles and cannot be touched. This is the inverse of many of Washington’s commanding performances that show him in a positive light.
Denzel Washington’s 10 Most Underrated Movies
Denzel Washington has made a career out of Oscar-winning performances and films, but he has starred in many underrated films that need more love.
Since Denzel Washington is such a trustworthy actor known for playing the “good guy,” it could be argued that this makes his villainous roles even more impactful. Going forward, it’s possible that Washington could still play villains in future movies. For example,Washington stars inGladiator IIas Macrinus, an Ancient Roman arms dealer. Since Macrinus has been teased to have a dark side inGladiator II, it seems likeDenzel Washingtonstill has an interest in playing villains.
