There's an old saying, "There's no stage without a script." I think that's still true today. It all starts with the content, not the platform or how the audience will see it. --Denzel Washington
" The Little Things " ( 2021), as the first Hollywood blockbuster to be released in 2021, in addition to the highlight of gathering three Oscar winners, its more important identity is as Warner Bros. "2021 Cinema Plan" first movie. When Warner Bros. earlier announced that "all the movies released in 2021 will be launched on HBO Max at the same time", it made a lot of waves not only in Hollywood, but even in China. Some lament the end of the big screen era, while others see it as a new era of cinema as the seventh art.
In fact, before the film was released on the 29th, many foreign media have already made public the evaluation of the film. The 50% index of Rotten Tomatoes and the score of imdb 7.6 seem to once again illustrate the various differences between professional film critics and audiences. But come to think of it, for all movie fans, it is already a great enjoyment to see three powerful actors Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto perform on the same stage.
These three powerhouses also have their own heavyweight new works this year. These works are either in production or waiting to be released. The Los Angeles Times ( LA Times ) also interviewed the two leading actors Denzel Washington before the movie was released. An exclusive interview with Rami Malek about how they see each other and their exploration of the way out for the film industry.
Author | Josh Rotterberg
Translator | Cai Cai
This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
Denzel Washington and Rami Malek
Challenging American Cinemas During the Pandemic
When writer-director John Lee Hancock was looking for actors for his new film, "The Tale of Us," a film about a story about solving a serial killer case, Denzel Washington and La Mi Malek doesn't actually seem like the most intuitive best partner, but that's precisely what appeals to Hancock.
"It wasn't the most logical choice, they weren't the kind of 'perfect fit' partner", with The Blind Side (2009), The Founder (2016), " But that's why I love the combination ," said the Hollywood-based director of films like " The Highwaymen " ( 2019), " I've been thinking, if these two were in a car, monitoring the same apartment together, ——Their expressions better make the audience feel interesting, or the movie is over." Hancock's realistic psychological thriller will be released in theaters and HBO Max this Friday. In the film, veteran police detective Joe Decker (Denzel Washington) has to deal with serious police detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) while facing nightmares from the past. Investigate a serial murder case against a woman in Los Angeles. In addition to these two Oscar winners, there is also Oscar winner Jared Leto, who plays the creepy number one suspect Albert Spamar.
"The two of them gradually started to share their troubles with each other," Hancock said of the two detectives. Baxter, and then Baxter would start doing things that he would never have done."
The production and distribution of "Clubs and Horses" can be described as quite tortuous. The film was originally written by Hancock in the early 1990s, and the whole story takes place in that era. Several times the project came close to being officially shot, and Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty and Danny DeVito were all tipped to direct the film. But in the end, after a long 30 years, it was still directed by Hancock himself. Due to the impact of the epidemic, the original theatrical distributors withdrew, which also made the film the first to test the waters of Warner Bros.'s "2021 movie plan to be launched simultaneously in theaters and HBO Max".
On the filming site With the arrival of this year's awards season, which has been continuously impacted by the epidemic, Denzel Washington is busy with the production of Netflix's new film, which is adapted from August Wilson's play "Marley" Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. And Malek, 39, is filming another new film, his first since winning an Oscar for best actor for his stunning performance in "Bohemian Rhapsody." "LA Times" conducted an exclusive interview with the two of them this time to hear how the two of them blow each other in business, and then take a look at their various views on this seemingly dark film industry.
Q: Denzel, you've also played a lot of cops over the years, especially in "Training Day" ( 2001 ), where you won an Oscar for your role as a corrupt police detective. So, what attracted you to this script? Makes you feel like you can break new ground in a genre you're so familiar with?
Washington: I already enjoyed it when I read the script, you know? It's that simple. There are some scripts that I may not be able to read by the second page, but this one made me eagerly turn to the third page. As I read it, I've been wondering how this story will play out? How does it end? This script intrigued me from the beginning.
Q: Rami, were you drawn to Denzel's performances as a child? I don't mean anything else, Denzel.
Washington: (pretends seriousness) Ha, you mean nothing and then you say, "Rami, remember when you were three?"
Malek: I remember when my dad and I were watching "The Dark Tide" ( Malcolm X , 1992, starring Washington), we were sitting in my living room, and we were absolutely blown away by the movie . I'll never forget that experience was unparalleled: the protagonist's story was of course great, but the actor who portrayed that protagonist in a unique way also stuck in my mind. I just happened to have the chance to see it again recently at the BFI screening in London (British Film Institute screening) and I'm really happy to have the opportunity to revisit it, and your performance. It's been great to work with you, bro.
Washington: Thank you, brother. You make me feel that there is nothing wrong with getting old. Part of the movie "Clubs" takes place in the interrogation room of the police station. I sat behind the glass watching Rami's interrogation of Jared. It made me feel like I could just buy some popcorn and Coke to bring in because the direct interaction between the two of them made me feel like I was watching two young fighters wrestle with each other. Their performances made me want to try it out, and I just wish I could just walk in and join them. These young actors like Rami, Jared, even my son John David Washington -- this generation of talented young actors is showing up one by one and watching them really work. It's very enjoyable and inspiring to me at the same time.
Malek: Listen, man, we all feel like we're going in the direction you've ever achieved. When you're talking about us, don't forget that it all comes from what you do.
Q: The roles of both of you, in the end, are so focused on catching the murderer that you even lost your ego in the end. Was there anything in preparation for this film that would help you get into that state better?
Malek: We both started to delve into the psychology of these two detectives, both of whom were obsessed with catching the murderer, and gradually turned this seemingly selfless behavior into a kind of self-satisfaction. I found that for these two characters, it was like two ends of a steel rope, one for themselves and one for the public, and they had to find a balance between the two. Sometimes selfishness takes the place of public service, and then the two characters must fight both sides of the rope. In life, there are some things you can choose to avoid, choose to turn a blind eye, but these two people, they force themselves to face those things every day.
Washington: At one point, a few years ago, when I was shooting another movie, I asked a detective out to meet just to find out what it was like to be a detective. We heard a guy calling him on the porch in front of his house with a gun in his hand, we got up right away, and the detective said to me, "Sit down" -- needless to say, Of course I have to sit down. Then he went out to deal with it.
As he was out, another car came slamming on the brakes, and then two other guys got out of the car, yelling, and I found this to be a bit serious. It was later learned that the two were the grandsons of the man with the gun. But the detective didn't know who they were at the time or whether they were a potential threat, but he put the whole thing down anyway. He didn't even pull out his pistol, he could have, he could have even shot. Because the old man could shoot him at any time. If this matter is not handled properly, there is a real possibility that blood will be splattered on the spot. I was like, "Oh my God, this is really a life and death moment, this is a real warrior."
I was shocked, but in fact this is the reality they face every day. You may ask, how did this affect you? Let me tell you this: it makes me respect from the bottom of my heart for what they do, and I want to praise them. It is because of them that we have the freedom we have today.
Q: Denzel, in fact, this type of film can be said to be commonplace in your previous acting career, but it seems that you have not been exposed to this type often in recent years. And many movies of this genre have been moved to TV series or streamed media, will it make it difficult for you to find similar projects that appeal to you?
WASHINGTON: I don't actually think less -- they just shifted positions. In fact, nowadays, with the development of streaming media and other media, what we lack is good content. You must know that content is king. So if you have good content at your fingertips, compared to the old system, where even a major studio planned to shoot 8 to 10 films a year, it is easier to mine in today's situation. . With streaming, I think it's easier for this type of film to be brought to the big screen.
There's an old saying, "There's no stage without a script." I think that's still true today. It all starts with the content, not the platform or how the audience will see it. I mean, if I get an offer for a role in Othello, I'll consider accepting it on any platform, because it's Shakespeare.
Q: If you actually did Othello, that would be awesome.
Washington: (laughs) Now we have Macbeth, one by one. (Author's note: Washington plays the protagonist Macbeth in Joel Cohen's "The Tragedy of Macbeth," joined by Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand. The film is expected to be released in 2021.)
Q: When Warner Bros. announced that all of their films in 2021 would be released simultaneously on HBO Max, and the plan was to start with "Twilight", it had a huge impact on the film industry. How did you two react when you saw the news? Washington: Well, let's wait and see. This is supposed to be a one-off program, and this is a very special time, and there has never been an outbreak like this before. So we should wait and see what happens over the next two years. This year is really special and everyone has to make some decisions in a hurry. Malek: Of course, I would love to see this movie on the big screen. But unfortunately, what's happening around the world prevents us from doing that, and we can't put the public's health at risk. So all we can do is accept the reality.
Q: Lamy, you are the villain of the next 007 movie "No Time to Die". This movie will be released in October, and this movie has been postponed for almost a year due to the epidemic. Denzel, you are currently directing your next film, Journal for Jordan (2022). Are both of you confident that the film industry will go back to the way it was? Or do you think this pandemic will keep audiences away from movie theaters? Malek: I do really hope that one day we can all go back to the cinema, because it's something that many of us desperately need and miss deeply, it's part of our lives.
WASHINGTON: No matter what the situation, there will always be opponents and apprehensions, worrying about this worrying about that. I'm not that kind of person. I don't live in fear of what might happen, I have faith in everything in the future.
In fact, I think things will turn out to be the exact opposite of what they expected. I feel that people are eager to reunite, to regain their collective life. They are eager to cry, laugh, and cheer with others when it is safe. I don't think this kind of living situation will be completely gone because of the epidemic. Now most people are still eager to get out of the house, the question is when they can actually get out safely, what will they want to do? And as actors, as filmmakers, it's our job to make the best movies and present great choices to the public.
Author's Note: This interview has been condensed and edited.
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