Roman J. Israel, Esq is one of Denzel Washington’s lesser-known movies, but the actor has recently ranked the film’s protagonist among his favorite roles to play. The story follows an eccentric defense attorney whose personal beliefs begin to clash with those of his profession, causing him to abandon his work and take extreme action as a civil rights activist instead. The film is rarely mentioned among Denzel Washington’s best dramas, but it was clearly an enriching experience for the actor.

The film was met with mixed reviews upon its release in 2017, with many critics agreeing that while Washington’s lead performance is always engaging, the narrative itself isn’t as compelling as it should have been. The film has just 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the audience score barely sitting higher at 57%. But despite the poor reception and critical disapproval, Roman J. Israel, Esq still features one of Denzel Washington’s best characters – and it’s clearly one that’s stuck with the actor.

Why Denzel Washington’s Favorite Role Was In Roman J. Israel, Esq.

There’s Something About The Character That’s Intoxicating To Watch

Speaking with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington admitted that “I love this guy more than any character I’ve played in my entire life.” While that’s a huge statement to make given the quality of characters that Washington has portrayed in the past, it’s hardly surprising. Roman is such a brilliantly likable protagonist despite his many flaws, and his dedication to fighting the good fight is something that audiences can truly connect with.

Denzel Washington has played many villains throughout his career, so it must have been refreshing to tackle a character whose moral compᴀss is more loose and ambiguous. There’s an excellent balance of compᴀssion and selfishness in this character that’s always compelling to watch, and it’s the kind of performance that audiences rarely see from Washington. He’s usually firmly rooted in either camp, whether that’s hero or villain, so it’s exciting to see him breeze so effortlessly between the two.

Denzel Washington’s Favorite Role Is A Perfect Example Of How Great He Truly Is

The Actor Could Have Chosen A More Acclaimed Project

Incidentally, the fact that Denzel Washington’s favorite role was in a film that’s widely viewed as not one of his best proves how confident he feels about his work – even when it’s not widely praised. Roman J. Israel, Esq is nowhere near as strong as Denzel’s best projects, but the actor delivers an excellent performance, and it’s refreshing to see an actor praise their own work in a poorly-received project. It highlights how effortlessly Washington can transform almost any material into a strong performance, proving that Denzel Washington is willing to separate his own work from the quality of the film.