Why One Director Dismissed Denzel Washington’s Most Cherished Role

Denzel Washington stands among the most celebrated actors in Hollywood history. His name alone can fill theaters, and his performances have left a lasting mark on American cinema. Yet, while his skill is undeniable, his signature approach to acting isn’t always the best example for newcomers still searching for their own voice. Unlike many stars who are forever linked to a single iconic role, Washington’s career is packed with standout performances, making it tough to pick just one as his finest. He’s won two Academy Awards —one for his supporting role in Glory and another for his lead in Training Day. Still, even his frequent collaborator Spike Lee argued that Washington’s portrayal of Malcolm X was his most deserving work.

Surprisingly, the role Washington himself holds dearest isn’t always the one fans or critics would expect. He’s expressed particular pride in his work on The Hurricane, where he played Rubin Carter, a real-life boxer wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for years. Carter’s story became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and even inspired Bob Dylan’s famous song “Hurricane.” The film earned Washington an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and required him to undergo intense physical training to convincingly portray a professional fighter. While the movie received plenty of praise, it also showcased a style of performance that only Washington could deliver—one that, if imitated by less experienced actors, might come off as overly dramatic or even cheesy.

Clashing Styles: A Director ’s Unfiltered Opinion

Director David Gordon Green, known for his indie drama George Washington, had a very different take on Washington’s performance in The Hurricane. Green, who worked with young, inexperienced actors, wanted to steer them away from what he saw as theatrical or artificial acting. He explained,

I took advantage of the fact that the kids didn’t know the textbook ways of acting to show them what I thought acting is, which is just a hair beyond the ‘let’s pretend’ school of acting. I tried to get them to understand how I feel when I see Denzel Washington in The Hurricane, which I find such a phony, false performance in which I see him overdramatise every line he says.

Green’s approach was to draw out natural, understated performances from his cast, a style he continued in later films like All the Real Girls and Undertow.

Naturalism Versus Theatricality

Green’s comments highlight a long-standing debate in acting: should performances be larger-than-life or rooted in realism? In George Washington, Damian Jewan Lee’s portrayal of a young boy facing a life-changing event was praised for its authenticity. Green’s direction focused on keeping things grounded, letting the actors’ real emotions shine through rather than relying on dramatic flourishes. This philosophy set his work apart from the more traditional, Oscar-friendly performances that often dominate awards season.

Despite the praise for Green’s early films, his later career took a downturn with projects like Halloween Ends and The Exorcist: Believer. Some critics have pointed out the irony of Green criticizing Washington’s style, given his own mixed track record. Still, his perspective offers an interesting counterpoint to the widespread admiration for Washington’s work in The Hurricane, reminding us that even the most celebrated performances can divide opinion.