Denzel Washingtonis one of the most respected and talented actors in Hollywood, and for good reason. From intense dramas to inspiring stories,his work has always stood out for its level of character depth and authenticity. Consequently,Denzel Washington’s movieshave earned him an impressive legacy and a record as the most-nominated Black actor at the Oscars ever.
Over the years, he’s given us some memorable performances, fromMalcolm XtoDevil in a Blue DresstoTraining Day. In fact,Denzel Washington has even starred as an action movie heroon more than one occasion. As a result,his impressive range of roles has only elevated his career, building the actor a loyal following since the 1980s.
With such a wide range of genres explored,it is interesting to discover what has influenced Denzel Washington’s prolific career, sparking his passion for cinema. In an interview in 2007, Washington opened up about some of his favorite movies of all time, recalling three movies that had affected him throughout his life, including the 53-year-old masterpiece that isThe Godfather.
Denzel Washington Named The Godfather Among His 3 Favorite Movies
“Films Affect You Differently During Various Periods Of Your Life”
In an interview for Cindy Pearlman’sYou Gotta See This- a book by a veteran entertainment reporter collecting the top movie picks of various Hollywood actors, writers, and directors - Denzel Washington namedThe Godfatheramong his three favorite movies of all time. Washington said,“I’ll never forget the first time I saw The Godfather,”briefly talking of its impact.
“It affected me because I remember thinking, ‘Now this is a good picture from start to finish.’”
While the actor doesn’t go into much detail about his reasoning, Washington does state that “It affected me because I remember thinking, ‘Now this is a good picture from start to finish.’” Of course,Washington isn’t the only person in Hollywood to praise the film, asSteven Spielberg recently statedThe Godfatheris the “greatest American film ever made.”
The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was released in 1972 and follows the influential Italian-American crime family, the Corleones, under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). With the first movie following the rise of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) within his family’s criminal empire,The Godfather’sastonishing critical and commercial success expanded the well-loved film into an award-winning trilogy.
“Now, this is a good picture from start to finish.”
“It introduced me to the stark reality of the streets.”
Blue Velvet(1986)
“You gotta love a movie that has your jaw dropping.”
Coppola’s storytelling, unforgettable characters, and iconic performances madeThe Godfathera cultural touchstone for over 50 years. Therefore,it makes sense why Denzel Washington named the film as one of his favorites, especially as his own movies have clearly been influenced by the film. Luckily,The Godfatheris currently streaming on Paramount+for those who want to revisit it.
It’s Easy To See How The Godfather Influenced Some Of Washington’s Best Performances
Washington’s Characters Are Often Morally Ambiguous
Denzel Washington is known for his bad guy characters, who often operate in morally ambiguous territory - like inTraining Day,American Gangster, orFences. With the actor naming Coppola’sThe Godfatheras one of his favorite movies, it is easy to see thatWashington’s ability to embody such layered characters was clearly somewhat influenced by those inThe Godfather.
Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Don Vito Corleone made his character feel real, human, and multidimensional, even when he is caught in tough situations. As a result,The Godfatherhas earned a lot of praise for the actors’performances in playing real-life gangsters in the film. However, Washington is no different, as he also plays Frank Lucas in Ridley Scott’sAmerican Gangster.
American Gangsteris probably the prime example of how Denzel Washington has been influenced byThe Godfather,after naming it one of his favorite movies. Beyond both films being based on real-life criminals,Washington’s performance as Frank Lucas is a fascinating character study with echoes ofThe Godfatherseeping through, as part of the genre which Coppola’s film helped define.
Furthermore,Denzel Washington’s penchant for playing movie villainsmay have stemmed fromThe Godfather. The actor has previously stated that “Good guys don’t have any fun.” Although the Corleones are the protagonists inThe Godfather, they are far from good. WithDenzel WashingtondeclaringThe Godfatheras one of his favorite movies, it’s clear where this view might have originated.
The Godfather
Cast
The Godfather chronicles the Italian-American Corleone crime family from 1945 to 1955. Following an assassination attempt on family patriarch Vito Corleone, his youngest son Michael emerges to orchestrate a brutal campaign of retribution, cementing his role in the family’s illicit empire.
