Every Best Actor Oscar Movie Winner Of The 21st Century Ranked
10. Denzel Washington - Training Day (2001)
Who should have won: Denzel Washington - Training Day.
On paper, Training Day is just another in a long line of thrilling dramas about police corruption and justice, but it's elevated to greatness by the performance of Denzel Washington, who plays crooked cop Alonzo Harris.
Bringing to life one of modern cinema's most enigmatic and terrifying villains, Washington's performance is charismatic and alluring, to the point that you can feel yourself getting sucked under Harris's spell alongside Ethan Hawke's unprepared rookie.
Under the charisma, though, Washington wastes little time selling Harris for what he really is: A narcissistic monster with few morals and a penchant for Oscar-winning speeches. Washington has been subtler, but he's never been so intense or deceptive.