Although Denzel Washington is celebrated for his many thrilling performances, fans often overlook his most intense forgotten 2003 thriller movie, Out of Time. Released two years after Washington’s Oscar-winning turn in Training Day, this suspenseful neo-noir film delivers high-stakes drama and complex character dynamics that deserve renewed attention.
Washington’s Transformative Career Move After Training Day
Denzel Washington began his career with powerful performances in historical dramas such as Glory, Malcolm X, and Philadelphia, building a reputation for taking on challenging and meaningful roles. However, following his Academy Award win for Best Actor in 2001’s Training Day, Washington transitioned into the action genre, embracing blockbuster roles with significant success.
Trading intense, Oscar-nominated dramatics for electrifying action, he starred in hits like Man on Fire, The Manchurian Candidate, Inside Man, and Deja Vu. Washington skillfully blended award-worthy acting with mainstream thrillers, establishing himself as an enduring force in Hollywood action cinema, with his Equalizer franchise further solidifying his appeal. Amid these successes, Out of Time, released in 2003, has become one of the most intense yet often forgotten entries in his filmography.
Exploring the Tension and Neo-Noir Elements of Out of Time
Washington’s performance in Training Day set a new standard for Hollywood antiheroes, depicting a dangerous, manipulative, and utterly convincing villain. That role demonstrated his range, making it all the more intriguing when he returned—once again as a police officer—in Out of Time, though this time as a deeply flawed, but not evil, protagonist.
Out of Time situates Washington as Matt Lee Whitlock, the beloved chief of police in the coastal town of Banyan Key, Florida. Matt’s personal life is unraveling: he’s divorcing his wife, homicide detective Alex Diaz Whitlock (portrayed by Eva Mendes), while carrying on an affair with Ann (played by Sanaa Lathan), a woman married to an abusive man. Ann represents the archetypal femme fatale, deftly manipulating those around her to further her own interests.
The plot escalates when Ann convinces Matt that she is suffering from cancer, prompting him to steal evidence money from a recent drug bust to fund her supposed medical treatment in Switzerland. The tension spikes after Matt discovers Ann’s deception—she has neither cancer nor any intention of undergoing treatment—culminating in her faked death and framing Matt for murder. With suspicion quickly falling on him, and his estranged wife leading the investigation, Matt scrambles to outrun both the law and his own misjudgments.
Through tightly-paced storytelling and a palpable sense of urgency, Out of Time morphs from a standard thriller into a stylish, neo-noir drama, marked by classic elements such as betrayal, a morally gray protagonist, and a race against the clock to prove innocence and survive the aftermath.
Critical Reception and Box Office Struggles
Despite its intense narrative and strong cast, Out of Time failed to make a sizable impact at the box office, grossing only $55.5 million against a $50 million production budget. By comparison, Washington’s next film, Man on Fire, significantly outperformed it financially, earning $130.3 million worldwide despite receiving less favorable reviews from critics.
Critical response to Out of Time remained generally positive, with a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie achieved recognition at the 2004 Black Reel Awards, where Sanaa Lathan won Best Actress and the film earned Best Theatrical Film honors. Additionally, Denzel Washington and director Carl Franklin both received nominations for their respective contributions.
The Intense Competition That Overshadowed Out of Time
One key factor in the film’s muted success was the competitive landscape it faced upon release. Openings for other major films, such as School of Rock—widely regarded as Jack Black’s standout role—dominated the box office, with the Richard Linklater-directed comedy earning $131.3 million on a much smaller budget and drawing mainstream attention away from Out of Time. In addition, action-minded audiences were still flocking to The Rundown, starring Dwayne Johnson, which had a strong ongoing theater presence.
The situation worsened with the release of Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated Kill Bill: Volume 1 a mere week after Out of Time debuted, quickly diminishing the thriller’s momentum. As a result, Out of Time suffered a sharp 46.9% drop in its second week, struggled internationally with a mere $14.4 million in overseas earnings, and ultimately failed to find its footing among moviegoers at the time.
Studio circumstances also played a part in the film’s results. MGM, the studio behind Out of Time, experienced a string of underperforming releases during this period, including box office disappointments like Rollerball, Windtalkers, and Hart’s War. For director Carl Franklin, Out of Time marked a turning point, as he moved on from theatrical movies to focus on television projects thereafter.
The Cast and Craft Behind the Film
Out of Time features a tightly knit ensemble. Denzel Washington takes on the role of Matt Lee Whitlock, while Eva Mendes co-stars as Alex Diaz Whitlock, Matt’s soon-to-be ex-wife and a homicide detective determined to uncover the truth. Sanaa Lathan delivers a memorable performance as Ann, the enigmatic femme fatale at the heart of the story. Each actor brings depth and complexity to their characters, enhancing the film’s dramatic tension.
Directed by Carl Franklin, the movie leverages Florida’s atmospheric landscapes and moody cinematography to amplify the suspense, creating a claustrophobic sense of urgency that propels the action as Matt races to clear his name and unmask the real perpetrator.
Reassessing Out of Time as a Lost Thriller Gem
Though initially overshadowed by other releases, Out of Time now finds renewed relevance through streaming platforms, where new generations of viewers can discover one of Denzel Washington’s most intense forgotten 2003 thriller movies. Its blend of neo-noir intrigue, complex characters, and relentless pacing sets it apart within Washington’s diverse body of work. As audiences continue to revisit and celebrate action-thrillers, Out of Time may yet claim its place as a must-see entry in the actor’s celebrated career.
