Acting legend Denzel Washington (who received yet another Oscar nomination for Joel Coen's version of The Tragedy of Macbeth) may be best known for his award-winning work in Training Day and Glory. However, there are underappreciated films he's done that received mixed to negative criticism.
Some of Denzel's underrated work includes the 90s action thriller Ricochet, the action-comedy 2 Guns, the sci-fi action film Virtuosity, and the Tony Scott films Man on Fire and The Taking of Pelham 123. In these features, Denzel portrays tough but vulnerable characters who get caught up in challenging scenarios, while also having some charm and/or a sense of humor.
The Taking Of Pelham 123
This remake of the classic 1974 film stars Denzel as Walter Garber, an MTA train dispatcher who gets a call from a criminal named Ryder (a villainous and foul-mouthed John Travolta), who demands ten million dollars, or he'll kill the passengers he has held hostage in a train car. Garber is the cool and likable protagonist who talks to Ryder through the radio and manages to keep the situation under control, but his character isn't without flaws. In one of the film's best scenes, Ryder pressures Garber into talking about his alleged bribery charge, which Garber tries to ignore but eventually confesses to his crime.
Denzel displays the right amount of emotion and humor in this role because Garber is a nervous man who's never been placed in a tense situation before (let alone a train robbery and talking to a dangerous killer and thief). Denzel's calm demeanor as Garber also perfectly compliments Travolta's manic villain, even though both characters do have common elements (Catholicism, money problems, knowledge of NYC, etc.). Unlike other dramatic action roles, Garber is a more fearful part for Denzel because this character is inexperienced in using a firearm, and is nervous when meeting Ryder face-to-face for the first time. Garber is also one of Denzel's best roles due to his humanity and down-to-Earth interactions with friends, coworkers, the police, and the mayor (comically played by the late James Gandolfini).
Ricochet
This early 90s film from producer Joel Silver (best known for producing major Hollywood features like Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and The Matrix) is an ultra-violent thriller in which Denzel portrays Nick Styles, a Los Angeles police officer who becomes an infamous district attorney after taking down the criminal and cold-blooded killer Earl Talbot Blake (a terrifying John Lithgow). However, Styles is under scrutiny when Blake escapes from prison and frames the attorney for embezzling city funds, murder, and drug use. Styles desperately tries to track down Blake and fight for his career.
This is one of Denzel's early roles, and as Styles, the actor displays plenty of energy and charisma into the character. He's a mostly content family man with a wife and two daughters, but when Blake re-enters his life, Styles becomes more erratic, impatient, and unstable due to the drugs Blake injected into his body while holding him in captivity. Styles appears crazy (especially in scenes where Denzel talks fast and rushes to explain his situation to his colleagues), but he's just a man trying to prove his innocence. The best moments are when Styles and Blake face each other in a battle of strength and wit, including in the end as both characters fight to the death in Watts Towers.
2 Guns
It's rare to see Denzel in a comedy, but the actor shows his sense of humor in 2 Guns, an action-comedy in which he portrays an undercover DEA agent named Bobby Trench, who's investigating a Mexican drug lord named Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). Trench is partnered with Michael Stigman (Mark Wahlberg), who turns out to be an undercover U.S. Navy SEAL. Both men are surprised when learning about each other's real identity and work together to take down Papi and his crew, along with the corrupt members of the CIA (a hilarious Bill Paxton) and U.S. Navy (James Marsden), who each want millions of dollars in drug money for themselves.
Denzel and Wahlberg are perfectly matched as partners in crime who make fun of each other by cracking jokes about winking at waitresses, choosing what car to steal when infiltrating the U.S. Navy base, Trench always knowing a guy, and Stigman never missing a shot when firing a gun. Trench also has an intimate but casual relationship with a fellow DEA agent (Paula Patton), who turns out to be more than she seems, but Trench still loves her. Trench also has great confrontations with the villains, especially when held at gunpoint during Paxton's game of Russian roulette, or tied in front of Papi's raging bull. Trench's final act in luring all the bad guys together by using the money as leverage is also ingenious.
Virtuosity
This 1995 sci-fi action film marked the first time Denzel collaborated with Russell Crowe (the second being American Gangster). In this feature, Denzel portrays Parker Barnes, a tough and intelligent L.A. cop who is imprisoned after killing Matthew Grimes (a terrorist responsible for murdering Parker's wife and daughter). Out of sheer anger and vengeful rage, Parker also kills an innocent news crew interviewing Grimes. However, when a dangerously new and advanced technical program called SID 6.7 (Crowe) is brought into the real world after being conceived from virtual reality, Parker helps the police track him down.
While this may seem like a typical action thriller, it is a combination of several elements. As Parker, Denzel displays the protagonist's detective skills when figuring out SID 6.7's every move, while also expressing internal emotions when remembering the loss of his family. Crowe's villain is the perfect killing machine because the program has hundreds of profiles (mostly made up of killers and criminals), and if SID gets shot or sliced, it can heal back up by consuming glass. The hero and villain are also well-matched because the plot revolves around the nature of violence and rage, and how that can be viewed as fear and entertainment through the media.
Man on Fire
Denzel worked with the late great Tony Scott five times, and Man on Fire is one of their greatest achievements. It's a brutal and dramatic action thriller in which Denzel portrays a former assassin named John Creasy, who accepts a job as a bodyguard for the Ramos family in Mexico. Creasy has to guard and protect the young daughter Pita (Dakota Fanning), especially when driving her to school, home, and for extracurricular activities (swimming and piano lessons). One afternoon, Creasy gets shot, and Pita is kidnapped and then seemingly killed when ransom demands are poorly executed.
Creasy is one of Denzel's best roles because he portrays a morally conflicted character who goes through alcoholism and depression due to his career as a professional killer. However, it's Creasy's transformation that is captivating to watch, thanks to his friendly and evolving bond with Pita. Creasy teaches Pita how to become a faster swimmer, while Pita shares her personal thoughts and feelings with Creasy, and names her teddy bear after him. Creasy also showcases his gritty killer side when seeking revenge against everyone responsible for Pita's kidnapping, from shooting down and torturing bad guys with guns and knives, to the use of explosive devices.
Whether it's action, drama, comedy, or sci-fi, Denzel Washington is a versatile actor who is skilled in portraying strong and grounded characters that go up against major antagonists, while also dealing with deep moral and personal issues. Denzel has also proven that he will always give a powerful performance regardless of a film's critical reception.