Denzel Washington

Washington plays DEA agent Bobby Trench in the 2013 action comedy film 2 Guns, alongside actor Mark Wahlberg. The film revolves around Trench and naval intelligence officer Stig, played by Wahlberg. After discovering an illegal alliance between Mexican cartels and U.S. federal agents, the duo is hunted down by both parties.

We did some stupid stuff. We hung upside down, and were gored by bulls.

Washington plays Tobin Frost in the action film Safe House. Matt Weston, played by Ryan Reynolds, is a bored, rookie CIA agent assigned to a Cape Town safe house, until he gets his first visitor: wanted rogue agent Tobin Frost. Frost is onto something big, and someone wants him dead. On preparing for his role:

Every day I wrote in my script or journal: How am I going to win today, and what am I going to win?

Washington plays the role of Eli in the 2010 action adventure The Book of Eli, alongside Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis. Set in post-apocalyptic America, a drifter known as Eli is on a mission heading west with a book of important value. Along the way mobster Carnegie, played by Oldman, is set on killing Eli and stealing the book by any means necessary.

There’s this whole issue, without giving it away, is he blind, is he not… If you look at the movie, sometimes I actually bumped into stuff, and they used it.

Washington directs and stars as Melvin B. Tolson in the biographical period drama, The Great Debaters. Based on the life of Wiley College’s debate coach Melvin Tolson, the film tells the story of how their 47^th debate team made it to Harvard despite an era when the Jim Crow laws were commonplace. The film was produced by Oprah Winfrey. On directing:

It’s my passion. More than anything, I enjoy seeing talented people do what they do well. When you’re an actor, you come out of your trailer, do your thing, and then go back in. Directing is about collaboration—the production, the costuming, the script, the actors. I love it. It brings me joy.

Washington plays ATF agent Doug Carlin in the sci-fi thriller Deja Vu, alongside actors Val Kilmer, Paula Patton, and Jim Caviezel. After a ferry bombing in New Orleans, Carlin is invited to use the FBI’s newest surveillance technology which allows authorities to look back four days into the past. On working with director Tony Scott and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer:

It’s my third time with Tony and third time with Jerry and, needless to say, we’ve had tremendous success. Jerry just knows how to do it.

Washington plays Major Ben Marco in the The Manchurian Candidate, alongside actor Liev Schreiber. After saving Marco and his men from an ambush during the Gulf War, Sergeant Raymond Shaw, played by Schreiber, has propelled his way into a vice presidential nomination. The closer Marco investigates the fateful day of the ambush, the more his life is threatened by the Manchurian Global Corporation.

If the film makes people think, that’s the point.

Washington plays Chief of Police Matt Lee Whitlock in the crime drama Out of Time. After being set-up with a double homicide, Chief Whitlock must remain one step ahead of his own police force before he becomes a suspect himself. Co-starring Eva Mendes. On his character:

He’s very complex, which is what I thought was interesting. He’s human, stupid, arrogant, a big fish in a small pond, and worse than an adulterer. I see this as very much a film about temptation.

Washington plays John Quincy Archibald in the drama, John Q. After collapsing at his baseball game due to his enlarged heart, Archibald’s son, Michael is left no other option but to undergo a heart transplant. After being told that his insurance doesn’t cover his son’s transplant, Archibald takes the hospital hostage and demands the doctors save Michael’s life.

My character is a very sweet guy, a positive family man. One of my producing partners said, ‘If they don’t like you in Training Day, John Q can be your apology to your public.’

Washington plays Coach Herman Boone in the biographic drama Remember the Titans, alongside actor Will Patton. The film is based on the inspiring true story of Coach Herman Boone and his 1971 high school football team. The film covers topics of athletics, youth, and racism and is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. On taking on the role of Coach Boone:

And I read it and thought, Hmm. Interesting story. Interesting character. What really nailed it for me was meeting Coach Boone.

Washington plays ex-forensic cop Lincoln Rhyme in the crime drama The Bone Collector. A tunnel accident results in Rhymes becoming a quadriplegic. Depressed, Rhymes is about to give up when a series of murders gives him interest in living again. With rookie Amelia Donaghy, played by actress Angelina Jolie, on the field, Rhymes has everything he needs to hunt down the serial killer.

When I first saw the film myself, I was scared to death a few times. I think Phillip Noyce [the director] did an incredible job of creating a claustrophobic and haunting atmosphere.