Interview By: Jennifer Krieger
*Click Here For Another Interview with Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington hardly needs any introduction. His intense performances in movies as desperate as Malcolm X and Training Day have etched his name in movie history. While The Academy took their sweet time in awarding him an Oscar for best actor, he has been garnering critical acclaim since he first appeared on screen. We got a chance to catch up with Washington, fresh off the set of The Manchurian Candidate, and he gave us the inside scoop on working with Jonathon Demme, dealing with being a celebrity and taking on the role once embodied by Frank Sinatra in the original Manchurian Candidate.
In one of Washington's earlier roles he starred opposite Tom Hanks as a lawyer forced to confront his own homophobia in the stirring Philadelphia. One of the first films to give a realistic depiction of a man battling AIDS, the picture was directed by Jonathon Demme. Here Washington has once again joined forces with Demme, he describes Demme's directing style as 'in your face' in the truest sense of the words. He literally puts the camera 'in your face', heightening the intensity of the actors reactions and their resonance with the audience.
Washington chose to star in the twisted, convoluted story of war, brainwashing and political intrigue not because he was 'particularly attracted to playing the role of a soldier,' but because he 'just liked the story.' When asked whether he ever had any doubts during the filming that the movie would be a success, Washington quips 'the time to worry about flying is when you're on the ground.' After the film started shooting he was so immersed in the projects he never had any doubts. Besides, Washington asserts 'I trust Jonathon' as a director.
Washington doesn't see this movie as 'an army movie' but he does admit that war makes for heightened drama. As for the political relevance of the picture, Washington avoids characterizing it as a partisan or slanted film, nor does he think it is critical of the current administration's decision to go into Iraq. He believes the paranoia surrounding the film, the fear of constantly being watched is something all viewers can relate to on some level. At least he could; being a celebrity, he remarks 'you don't know who's watching you.'
As for the rumors of undercurrents of criticism for the war in Iraq embedded within the film, Washington dismisses them. And laughs at the idea of the film being politically controversial, but, he admits, rather ruefully, that he would welcome the controversy if it translated into box office success. 'This year,' he remarks 'has taught us that when people protest the movie becomes a big hit' and he cites Fahrenheit 9/11 and Passion of the Christ as examples.
In the end, the film is not supposed to make a political statement or back up a partisan line, Washington only hopes it will provoke some kind of discussion 'if the film makes people think,' He declares, 'that's the point.'
JenniferKrieger@TheCinemaSource.com
