Thursday, November 29, 2007

A History of Violence

And the Oscar goes to!...........With the Academy Awards just months away, the general public and movie critics alike have predicted Denzel Washington will receive his 6th Academy Award nomination for his role in American Gangster. The film was arguably this years' most anticipated release and raked in over 40 million dollars at the box office opening weekend.

In American Gangster, Denzel Washington portrays Frank Lucas who was one of the biggest drug dealers this country has ever seen. The film follows Lucas's ascent to the top of New York City's crime hierarchy to his ultimate decline and destruction. Washington's fiery portrayal of Lucas immediately drew comparisons to his electrifying performance as Alonzo Harris in 2001's Training Day. Denzel collected his first Best Actor Oscar for this film and became only the second African-American actor to attain the academy's ultimate prize.

Many in the black community were not pleased when Washington received his first Best Actor Oscar for portraying the corrupt and menacing Detective Alonzo Harris in Training Day. Meanwhile, fans and critics instantly pointed to Washington's star turns in 1992 as Malcolm X and in 1999 as wrongly imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter as being performances Denzel should have won his first Best Actor Oscar for. The masses cried foul when it took playing a villain for only the second African-American actor to capture the golden statue for a leading role.

While Washington did have a previous body of work that warranted a Best Actor award, his turn in Training Day falls right in line with some of the most heralded performances and characters in film history. Many of these performances have led to numerous awards, nominations and Best Actor awards.

In 1973, Marlon Brando, who is thought of as the greatest actor of all time, received his second Best Actor Oscar for portraying Don Vito Corleone in 1972's The Godfather. His portrayal of an aging crime boss is thought of by many as one of the greatest characterizations in film history. Two years later, Robert DeNiro won his first Oscar for portraying the younger version of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Both Godfathers won Best Picture Oscars, cementing them in history as two of cinema's greatest films.

Who can forget Al Pacino's unforgettable performance as Tony Montana in 1983's Scarface. Pacino was electric as an unstable, arrogant and abrasive cocaine-dealing drug lord. Although the film did not net any Academy Award nominations, Pacino's performance did lead to a Best Actor Golden Globe award nomination. Goodfellas, released in 1990, won Joe Pesci his first Oscar for his over-the-top performance as Tommy DeVito.

Funny enough, the portrayal of one of cinema's ultimate villains lead to a Best Actor Oscar. Anthony Hopkins turn as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs led to his first ever Oscar. Not only was Lecter a serial killer but he was also a cannibal who enjoyed eating his victims. This film went on to capture Best Actress, Director, Screenplay and Picture Oscars at the 1992 Academy Awards.

Not only may Denzel Washington earn his 6th nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards, he may win his second Best Actor Oscar for American Gangster. Yes, it is another villainous role, but not one that is anything out of the ordinary for American cinema.

When Denzel decides to retire from acting, his career will not be defined by his (possibly)two Best Actor Oscars for playing the bad guy. It will be defined by his talent and passion for the craft of acting. If Denzel wins the golden statue come 2008, it won't be the first time the award is won for portraying an American Gangster.

Majority Mind Questions
What are your thoughts about actors of any racial background being typecast into certain roles?
Do you recall any other movie stars that only seem to be recognized or awarded when they play particular types of characters? And more importantly, does this take anything away from the actor or does it add a stigma to their acting persona?

What movies do you think would have been better or worse if different actors or actresses were featured in them and why?

1 comment:

Unconquerable Alpha said...

My personal feeling about this, since I am an actor is that some people are never satisfied. And when I say people I mean our black people. We think the world owes us something because of our history. The truth is they don't owe us anything, but we owe it to ourselves to make things happen in our lives and not wait on anybody to give it to us. Now back to Denzel. In terms of actors he is my favorite and the one actor i study the most in terms of acting. He is also a great role model for young black man. He's a man of God and a family man. When he won the Oscar for Training Day, I applauded him. Honestly though I thought Daniel day-Lewis did a better job in gangs of New York, but that's neither her nor there. Denzel has always played the strong empowering characters, and his role as a corrup cop is no different. Yes he should have won for Malcolm X, but that's the problem with the Academy. They never give awards when they are supposed to. Everyone knows Al Pacino wasn't supposed to get the award, but they owed him. It's the same thing with Training Day. they owed Denzel because he got shafted.
And yes, not giving him the award for Malcolm x may have been racist, just based of the character he was playing. But I didn't get that feeling for Training Day or American Gangster (which I think he should win the Oscar for). People forget that he is his own person and he chooses his roles. He chose that role as a corrupt cop and a crime boss. How come we don't question all the other Italian American actors who act in mob movies and then get awards for those roles? There is nothing wrong with playing a bad guy. it's not Denzels fault he happens to be amazing at it. Another question that was brought up is "Do you recall any other movie stars that only seem to be recognized or awarded when they play particular types of characters?" Some of these actors are Lorenz Tate and Tyrese Gibson. Tate is a character actor, not lead, who again chooses his own roles and apparently is comfortable in those roles. Tyrese is a lead who I see could possibly be nominated for an Oscar if he continues to grow and start accepting different roles besides the hard nosed, don't take no mess tough guy. But that is his decision. These actors are type cast into these roles, because they allow themselves to be, unlike Denzel wo plays an array of different characters, not just the man in power. John Q is a perfect example. He was vulnerable and emotional. In Antwaun Fisher he was a caring doctor who wanted to help. Before we react to something we have to start thinking critically. Thank you.