Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Billy Wonka (A) on October 02, 2014 at 14:23:28

In Reply to: RE: Denzel's critics say he's going too one-dimensional. posted by free.ranger on September 27, 2014 at 09:27:08

Reflecting back, Denzel was a former BLACK OPS soldier (for whatever that means). He's back in civilian life and he has not adjusted to the trauma he has experienced. He has PTSD. Severe cases can produce OCD: the tightness of his bed, shaving his head, morning shakes, checking his apartment, going to the same cafe, arranging his utensils precisely, opening and shutting the door several times before the fight (big clue), and Moretz saying "I know this breaks protocol" when she went to sit down.

More importantly, he was projecting the "flattened affect" in which the personality has retreated due to stress and trauma. Remember how he seemed flat until someone spoke to him and his smile and face seemed to brighten up mechanically? He nailed it.

Also, PTSD guys can have tremendous guilt for no apparent reason: Hence, the Equalizer, doing good to absolve the guilt that may be hurting him.

Denzel was a severely traumatized ex-government killer.