DISQUS

Film School Rejects: Shouting Match: Denzel Washington vs. John Travolta – FACE/OFF!

  • JMoney · 5 months ago
    Travolta's career has been so bad that I sometimes forget he played Vinnie Vega, and I watch Pulp Fiction at least a few times a year.

    I would say the best way to look at this is, how many movies have they done that people would want to own and will watch again.

    Travolta's career can be boiled down to 4 movies, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Pulp Fiction, and Get Shorty. I would say everything else he has done is easily forgotten.

    Denzel on the other hand, almost all of his movies are re-watchable. Beyond that, Denzel takes mediocre movies and makes them enjoyable, like Fallen and John Q.

    So while Travolta may have 4 movies that are more prominant in the pop culture, that is all he has. If a movie of his comes on tv and it isn't one of those four movies, I'm turning it off (truthfully, i'm turning off Grease and SNF too, but you get what I mean). But if a movie with Denzel comes on, the chances are I'm going to keep watching.
  • DrewCSchultz · 5 months ago
    I'd like to add "A Civil Action" to his list of good movies. Denzel's way better, for the sole fact that he made "Man on Fire", one of the most kickass movies ever made.

    Quick Note: Denzel needs to take a break from Tony Scott for a little while. Go hook up with Ridley for awhile.
  • B.Shet · 5 months ago
    "Training Day", "Philadelphia" and "He Got Game" have to be some of my favorite movies of all time, but I'm going to have to go with Travolta on this one. He has put out some sh*t in his days (and I'm talking diarrhea after a Chinese buffet type sh*t), but the sweet wouldn't be as sweet without the sour. I admire his career and some of the roles he's played. I know that the characters he's portrayed/created will live on forever and remain cinematic icons, whereas I sadly can't say the same for Denzel. From my perspective I would rather have the career of John. It wasn't always good, but you've got to respect some of the choices he's made.