Did the 80s and early 90s define him that much?

To me, I guess so. Also, if Spike Lee is the director, in my head it's "a Spike Lee movie," not "a Denzel Washington movie."

I really only tend to think of his stuff post-Malcolm X (maybe starting around Pelican Brief) as even potentially "Denzel Washington movies" (and not all after that are, of course).

Yeah, honor may not be the right word, but they do often have that "one man against the big, immovable corporation, government entity, social force" type of central conflict.

I think he has played away from type more often than many, but I still think its there, especially on the films that everyone knows/remembers.

especially on the films that everyone knows/remembers.

Which are those, you figure?

I my head, Spike Lee movies were Denzel movies. I have to keep reminding myself that not only was he not lead in Jungle Fever, he never in hell would have been.

Right now, a Denzel movie is one in which I get to see him look pretty. Mostly he's a romantic lead, or the saves someone, but that's no different from most of his co-workers. It's just that I figure I'll enjoy watching him do it more than most -- more like Robin's breakout than anything thematic at all. Movies like Training Day and He Got Game stick out in my head just as much as Malcolm X and Glory.

Movies like Training Day and He Got Game stick out in my head just as much as Malcolm X and Glory.

Definitely. But I think it's the movies that don't stick out in my head that give me the impression of "a [star] movie." It's the whole mushy middle.

Also,

A Tom Hanks movie is probably touching and inspirational, and maybe he's not that bright.

Philadelphia? Cast Away? Catch Me If You Can?

Oh, and a PS to further above: It's KathArine Hepburn, FYI.

But I think it's the movies that don't stick out in my head that give me the impression of "a [star] movie."

But you're typing those, right, based on something? Or am I reading your wrong? Do the movies that don't stick out have a character their own?

Philadelphia? Cast Away? Catch Me If You Can?

You will note the use of the word "probably."

And how was Philadelphia not meant to be touching and inspirational?

But you're typing those, right, based on something? Or am I reading your wrong? Do the movies that don't stick out have a character their own?

I don't know what you're asking.

Love Denzel. Am also very sad to have missed a discussion about killing people with hammers! Nobody told me...have you all just met me or something?:) OK, reasons why hammers are quite common as murder weapons. 1. Almost everyone has one. 2. They are cheap. 3. People don't always plan ahead when they kill, get pissed off and whack somebody with whatever comes to hand.( I read a book with a whole section on it, but that is what I remember.)

And how was Philadelphia not meant to be touching and inspirational?

Oh, of course it was, but not in the mawkish, not-that-bright "Tom Hanks movie" way.