For me, Denzel Washington should have an entire mantle filled with Oscars.
The Academy overlooks Denzel Washington repeatedly. However, two times they did it that were especially annoying.
I have to say first, that I am also a huge fan of Al Pacino's, but in 1992, the Academy should have awarded the Oscar to Denzel Washington for Malcolm X, instead of Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman.
Al Pacino deserved the Oscar for many other movies he starred in, but 1992 belonged to Washington.
As I stated in The Talent and Appeal of Denzel Washington:
"Although he played many roles that deserved an Oscar nod, as well as Emmys for his portrayal of one of my favorite doctors on television, I was most disappointed with the oversight of his role in the movie, Philadelphia.
I think Denzel's character perfectly depicted the way most people viewed those with AIDS back in the early 1990's.
For that role, his actions, facial expressions, and body language along with the words he spoke, perfectly depicted the reactions of most people back then that did not understand and were afraid of the disease, called AIDS. He convinced anyone who saw the movie that if a man like him could do it, then so could all of us.
In 2001, when Denzel finally won for Best Actor, it was especially sweet because even though it was one of his best performances, I would have happy with a tie between these three:
2001
Denzel Washington for Training Day
Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind
Sean Penn for I Am Sam
Although I was thrilled to see Denzel win, it was a tough decision this year. Russell Crowe was brilliant. In addition, as much as I disagree with Sean Penn on his political views, he is a talented actor and this performance was my favorite of his.
All three of these actors deserved an Oscar this year.
Denzel deserved his first Best Actor win long before 2001.
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