Denzel Washingtonhas been in dozens of critically acclaimed films. Washington is a legendary actor whose career has lasted nearly half a century. He received his first Oscar nomination in 1988 for Best Supporting Actor for his role inCry Freedom. From there, he went on to win an Oscar two years later for Best Supporting Actor forGlory. These films helped establish Washington as an A-list actor, and he is still respected as such today. This year, Washington plays a role in the upcomingRidley Scott historical epicGladiator II.
Washington recently made comments alluding to his retirement, but later clarified that he would simply be more selective about what projects he takes on. This is a testament to how seriously Washington takes his craft, which he has spent so many years honing. As evidenced on the publicity trail forGladiator II, Washington is an actor who very thoughtfully reflects on his roles while preparing for them. A recent interview revealed how this level of dedication affects the actor in a specific way.
Washington Has Not Watched His Movies In Their Entirety
This Includes Malcolm X
In an interview withThe Times, Washington reveals his stance on watching the films that he is in. In this conversation, the interviewer brought up Dame Judi Dench, who notoriously does not watch any of the movies she is in. Washington admits that he is also “guilty” of this, saying thathe only watches his own movies “so [he] know[s] what [he’s] talking about.“However, the actor “[hasn’t] watched any film from [his] past from start to finish,“including renowned work such asMalcolm X. Check out the full quote from Washington below:
Guilty! I watch it so I know what I’m talking about. But I haven’t watched any film from my past from start to finish, not evenMalcolm X. All you see is what you did wrong. Also why would you do it anyway?
All 18 Denzel Washington Movies From The 1990s, Ranked
Denzel Washington had a breakout year in the ’90s, starring in iconic roles in critically acclaimed films such as Philadelphia and The Pelican Brief.
Our Take On Denzel Washington Not Watching His Own Movies
Denzel Is In Some Great Work
Washington takes a pragmatic approach when it comes to the decision to watch his own movies. When he says that he watches enough to know what he is talking about, he is likely referring to having enough knowledge to participate in interviews and other publicity for the film. Rather than concretely refusing to watch his movies, he simply doesn’t finish them, still allowing for some understanding of the cinematic choices at play.Washington’s careerhas come far enough that he understands what he tactically needs to do to get by.
The unfortunate thing for Washington about not watching his own movies in full is that he is missing out on some spectacular works of art.Many of Washington’s movies have 90% or higher scores on Rotten Tomatoes, showing universal acclaim from critics. Furthermore, both the actor himself and the films that he is a part of have received Oscar nominations, further cementing their value. It is completely understandable thatWashingtonmay not want to watch his own movies because of his own self-criticism, but nonetheless, it means the actor is missing some great work.
