Leonardo DiCaprio stunned the world and made the arena of film his own when he delivered a once-in-a-lifetime performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Later, he matured into an all-around powerhouse of acting with films like Django Unchained, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Revenant.
But even before DiCaprio, Denzel Washington proved what true talent could harness by revealing a masterclass of exemplary acting crafted by a genius. Washington’s skills lay in his ability to define entire worlds with a simple gaze, a dialogue delivery, or a non-verbal cue. Or, in this case, a fleeting smirk in an improvised scene with a 10-year-old actress in an action thriller flick.
Denzel Washington: The Master of Improvisation
Despite the vast filmographic record of Denzel Washington, the actor proved to be a true and outstanding talent with films like Malcolm X, Philadelphia, and Devil in a Blue Dress. Later, more mainstream films brought the actor to the forefront of audience awareness with action films like Equalizer, Safe House, and Crimson Tide.
As Washington rose through the ranks to become one of the most highly regarded movie stars at the turn of the century, fans and moviegoers also recognized his penchant for complex films told in layers of narrative and emotional density.
But the 2004 film, Man on Fire, was neither emotionally complex nor narratively layered. And yet, the movie holds a high place in the filmography of Denzel Washington for one very specific reason – it proved why the actor is truly one of the greatest artists of all time through an improvised scene that he played off against scene partner Dakota Fanning, who was only 10 at the time.
The Magic of Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning
The 2004 action film, Man on Fire, features Denzel Washington as an ex-CIA operative on the hunt for a kidnapper who took a 10-year-old girl captive. Assigned to protect her, Washington’s man of vengeance soon turns his skills to fulfill an ultimate objective – getting the girl back. Suffice it to say, Hollywood has seen a whole litter of movies that fit the same overdone plot description.
However, Man on Fire proved to be somewhat different than the rest. For one, it was Denzel Washington in the lead, as such making every scene with him worth watching simply based on his captivating on-screen dialogue deliveries. Secondly, Washington was accompanied by a scene partner who, in his own words, was a 40-year-old seasoned actress trapped in a 10-year-old girl’s body.
In a scene that was supposed to include only 2 lines – You were smiling and I was not – Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning improvised a minute-long scene of back-and-forth dialogue deliveries that was so refined and captivating that it could have only come from a seasoned and creatively-gifted genius.
Long before Leonardo DiCaprio made a name for himself improvising on the sets of Django Unchained, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning carved a niche for themselves with a scene that will forever hold a special place in movie history.
Man on Fire is available to buy/rent on Apple TV and Prime Video.
