I definitely call his schtick “over-acting”. I’ll grant he’s above average, and I do enjoy his performances - but no way is he the best. The really great actors are the ones who can make you forget they’re acting and transcend their own personalities. Denzel Washington is always Denzel Washington.
One actor who I think is far better is Gary Oldman. He’s a completely different person from one character to the next. It’s uncanny how much he transforms himself into a character.
“One actor who I think is far better is Gary Oldman. “
I agree! Been in more movies and great in them all, but Drac-coo-la. Was the BEST!
Also in “The Professional”. EVERYONE!!!!!
Remembrance Daniel
1983 Meantime Coxy
1986 Sid and Nancy Sid Vicious
1987 Prick Up Your Ears Joe Orton
1988 Track 29 Martin
Criminal Law Ben Chase
We Think the World of You Johnny
1989 Chattahoochee Emmett Foley
1990 Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead Rosencrantz
State of Grace Jackie Flannery
Henry & June Pop Credited as Maurice Escargot
1991 JFK Lee Harvey Oswald
1992 Bram Stoker’s Dracula Count Dracula
1993 True Romance Drexl Spivey
Romeo Is Bleeding Jack Grimaldi
1994 Léon: The Professional Norman Stansfield
Immortal Beloved Ludwig van Beethoven
1995 Murder in the First Milton Glenn
The Scarlet Letter Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale
1996 Basquiat Albert Milo
1997 The Fifth Element Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
Air Force One Egor Korshunov
Nil by Mouth — Director, writer, and producer only
1998 Lost in Space Dr. Zachary Smith
Quest for Camelot Lord Ruber Voice
1999 Plunkett & Macleane — Executive producer only
2000 The Contender Representative Sheldon Runyon Also executive producer
2001 Nobody’s Baby Buford Hill Also producer
Hannibal Mason Verger Uncredited
2002 Interstate 60 O.W. Grant
The Hire: Beat the Devil The Devil Short film
2003 Tiptoes Rolfe Bedalia
Sin Charlie Kraken / Charlie Strom
2004 Who’s Kyle? Scouse Short film
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Sirius Black
2005 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith General Grievous Lines redubbed by Matthew Wood[3][4]
Batman Begins James Gordon
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Sirius Black Cameo appearance
2006 The Backwoods Paul
2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Sirius Black
2008 Dead Fish Lynch
The Dark Knight James Gordon
2009 The Unborn Rabbi Joseph Sendak
Rain Fall William Holtzer
A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim / Bob Cratchit / Jacob Marley Motion capture
Planet 51 General Grawl Voice
2010 The Book of Eli Bill Carnegie
Countdown to Zero Narrator Documentary
One Night in Turin
2011 Red Riding Hood Father Solomon
Kung Fu Panda 2 Lord Shen Voice
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Sirius Black Cameo [5]
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy George Smiley
Guns, Girls and Gambling Elvis Elvis
2012 The Dark Knight Rises James Gordon
Lawless Floyd Banner
2013 Paranoia Nicolas Wyatt
2014 RoboCop Dr. Dennett Norton
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Dreyfus
2015 Child 44 General Timur Nestorov
2016 Man Down Captain Peyton
Criminal CIA Senior Agent Quaker Wells
2017 The Space Between Us Nathaniel Shepherd
The Hitman’s Bodyguard Vladislav Dukhovich
Darkest Hour Winston Churchill Won the Academy Award for Best Actor
2018 Tau Tau Voice
Hunter Killer Admiral Charles Donnegan
2019 Killers Anonymous The Man
Mary David
The Laundromat Jürgen Mossack
The Courier Ezekiel Mannings
2020 Mank Herman J. Mankiewicz
2021 Crisis Dr. Tyrone Brower
The Woman in the Window Alistair Russell
2023 Oppenheimer Harry S. Truman
2024 Parthenope John Cheever
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1983 Meantime Coxy Television film
1984 Dramarama Ben Episode: “On Your Tod”
1984 Morgan’s Boy Colin 4 episodes
1985 Summer Season Gary Episode: “Rachel and the Roarettes”
1986 Honest, Decent and True Derek Bates Television film
1989 The Firm Clive “Bex” Bissell
Knots Landing Don Ross Episode: “Close Call”
1991 Heading Home Ian Tyson Television film
1993 Fallen Angels Pat Keiley Episode: “Dead End for Delia”
1999 Tracey Takes On... Hairdresser Episode: “Hair”
Jesus Pontius Pilate Television film
2001 Friends Richard Crosby Episode: “The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding”
2002 Greg the Bunny Himself Episode: “Piddler on the Roof”
2022 Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts HBO Max special
2022–present Slow Horses Jackson Lamb Main role [6]
Video games
Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
1993 Bram Stoker’s Dracula Count Dracula
1998 The Fifth Element Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg
2003 Medal of Honor: Allied Assault - Spearhead Sergeant Jack Barnes
True Crime: Streets of LA Rasputin “Rocky” Kuznetskov / FBI Agent Paul Masterson [7]
2006 The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning Ignitus
2007 The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
2008 The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
Call of Duty: World at War Sergeant Viktor Reznov [8]
2010 Call of Duty: Black Ops Viktor Reznov / Dr. Daniel Clarke
2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Viktor Reznov Archive voice clips (uncredited)
2015 Lego Dimensions Lord Vortech
2026 Squadron 42 Admiral Ernst Bishop Also motion capture
“One actor who I think is far better is Gary Oldman.”
Another is Tom Berenger.
Compare his characters in “Eddie and the Cruisers” and his character in “Platoon”.
Night and day! Berenger has been in some BAD movies, but also great ones.
IMHO the best actor of all these days is Billy Bob Thornton, just an amazing range of roles throughout his career.
Gary oldman might be better but his movies suck. Very boring.
IMHO, Hollywood is a popularity contest. The world has many talented actors. The most successful are simply the ones people like the most. Most of the leading actors play themselves in every role, but people want to see them. Thinking of Clint Eastwood and Keanu Reeves as examples... They have a certain quality that's hard to describe. Many other actors can check off the right boxes in looks and talent but never reach their level of success.
'A Soldier's Story' was the first film I saw Denzel Washington in. It was a great movie, and all the actors were talented. One could argue the others were more talented than Denzel. But he had that special quality that's hard to describe.
With that said, I didn't like that he rushed over to Will Smith, instead of Chris Rock, but I don't have to agree with everything someone does or says. Speaking of Will Smith, the rumors about his behind-the-scenes personality have been around since he played the 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air.' Then, after he hit Rock, Smith's career took a hit. Smith had a quality that people liked - until they stopped liking him.