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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 25 November 2017
Q&A: Denzel on ‘Roman J.

Israel,’ ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Shaft’

By JAKE COYLE AP: Where did Roman’s how many you’re going to
AP Film Writer walk come from? get. You just try to do the
NEW YORK (AP) — Denzel Washington: I did a lot of best you can with what you
Washington, 62 years-old research on the spectrum. have and enjoy it.
and a seven-time Oscar In some people, it talked AP: This year marks the 25th
nominee, is still trying to get about a lack of coordina- anniversary of “Malcolm X.
better. tion — in some people, not “ Like him, you’re the son
In Dan Gilroy’s “Roman J. everyone. I was attracted of a preacher. Do you feel
Israel, Esq.,” Washington to that. It was something I as though you’ve followed
This Nov. 20, 2017 photo shows actor Denzel Washington posing himself could physicalize. I forget in your father’s footsteps at
for a portrait in New York to promote his latest film, “Roman J. has challenged
Israel, Esq.” with one of his most com- how I actually got to it, but all?
Associated Press plicated and singular roles. I decided to wear shoes Washington: For a time, it
The title character (played a couple of sizes too big. sent me in another direc-
by Washington) is a vet- It changed everything. It tion. That can be a pattern
eran activist attorney. After changed the way I walked, for preacher’s son. I had to
decades spent as a brilliant just trying to keep them on. go to church, so it wasn’t
behind-the-scenes legal AP: Do you often start with fun. I didn’t know anything
mind, the death of his more something like that? different. Being a minister’s
renowned partner brings Is- Washington: I like to get the son, having grown up in the
rael out into the open. shoes sooner than later. It church and learned the
For an actor whose most gets the ball rolling. cadence, it was probably
powerful performances AP: You had a close brush easier to play that part. I
(“Malcolm X,” ‘’Glory,” with Dan Gilroy’s broth- had some idea of different
‘’Training Day”) have been er, Tony, whose “Michael rhythms.
monuments of power and Clayton” you passed on. AP: I suspect you’d be
strength, Israel is an oddity Washington: Yeah, made a good at the pulpit.
— a loping, rumpled, anti- mistake there! It worked out Washington: Well, it’s not
social loner who Gilroy and all right, though, for Tony. performance-based if you
Washington say has As- And for George (Clooney). mean what you say. And
perger’s Syndrome. But he’s AP: Did you have a feeling you better mean what you
also of a part with many of of starting a new chapter say. My father did. He be-
Washington’s more recent after “Fences”? You spent lieved it with every fiber of
roles (the tragic Troy Max- years performing that on his being. He was a man of
son in “Fences,” the alco- Broadway and directing God and we share that. For
holic pilot of “Flight”) that the film adaptation. him, the pulpit was wher-
have stretched the actor in Washington: Increasingly, ever he was. My father was
new directions. I’m only going to do what a minister and my mother
“I’m looking at the guy in I want to do, professionally. owned a beauty shop.
the mirror,” says Washing- So I don’t know what I’m So that seems like perfect
ton. “That’s who I’m chal- going to do next. Film-wise, breeding ground for an ac-
lenging.” I don’t. I do on the stage. tor. That covers a lot!
Washington met for inter- (Washington will headline a AP: Many expected you to
view in midtown Manhat- revival of Eugene O’Neill’s win your third Oscar in Feb-
tan earlier this week during “The Iceman Cometh” on ruary, not Casey Affleck.
a day’s break from shoot- Broadway.) And that’s OK. Were you surprised?
ing the thriller sequel “The Take my time. The time I Washington: I’ve been
Equalizer 2” in Boston. His have left and the opportu- around a long time. I’ve
affection for Israel was ob- nities that I have left, I un- been around a while. Not
vious. It’s the only movie, derstand that that’s finite. to say you don’t have
Washington says, where How can I be the best that I feelings or you’re not hurt
he’s found himself quietly can be? And what interests or you’re not happy. But
pleading to his character me? Where’s the new terri- I’ve seen it all, I think. No,
to make better choices. tory? I haven’t — not the way
But the moves made by AP: Troy from “Fences” and that show ended! I haven’t
Washington — arguably Israel both share a discon- seen that before!
the biggest movie star on nect with younger genera- AP: Is there you a film you
the planet — remain fasci- tions. Has that been on your saw at a young age that
nating, too. mind at all? changed your life?
AP: You’ve compared Ro- Washington: It’s a fact. Washington: “Super Fly”!
man to “Cornel West on the Whether it’s on your mind or And “Shaft.” When I was
spectrum.” not. It may be on my mind, 14, 15, “Shaft” especially.
Washington: Cornel is bril- but I don’t remember! Here was a guy — I didn’t
liant and different. I don’t (Laughs) There’s 365 days in know who he was — but
know if he’s on the spec- a year, so 10 years is about he walked around and he
trum but who cares. He’s 3600 days. Twenty years is had his own theme music.
just bright and articulate about 7200 days. I’m 62 so He had a leather jacket on.
and down for the cause, 20 years, 7200 days, that’s He seemed to be in control
and there’s a lot of that in not a lot of time — if you and he was sticking it to the
Roman. get 7200. You don’t know man. q