10 Great Performances That Were Overshadowed By Their Co-Stars

10. Ethan Hawke - Training Day

Overshadowed By: Denzel Washington When anybody talks about Training Day, they will always almost bring up Denzel Washington's terrifying performance as Detective Alonzo Harris, a corrupt and deranged LAPD officer who escorts Ethan Hawke's inexperienced rookie, Jake Hoyt, on his first day on the job, where trouble ensues. The fact that Washington was going against his established character type meant that he eventually won acclaim (and the Oscar for Best Actor) for his turn here, but it also meant that a lot of the limelight was shifted away from Ethan Hawke, who's work here is equally impressive. Hawke might just be one of the most underrated actors working today as it is, and his role in Training Day - Oscar-nominated as it was - stands out as one of the great unsung performances of recent years. After all, we put ourselves in Jake's shoes for the sum of the picture, and we have to believe in him in order to believe in Harris. The problem is that it's easy to miss the great subtle nuances and moments of sublime acting on Hawke's part when Alonzo Harris is raving on the screen. So both performances are great; but none more so than the other.