It has been 13 years to the day since the iconic “Training Day,” came out.
That collaboration between the legendary Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua went on to earn two Oscar nominations with Denzel ultimately taking home the statue for Best Actor In A Leading Role. Washington and Fuqua are back for an equally gritty tale “The Equalizer,” based on an 80’s television series, which will be out this Friday, Sept. 26.
In “Equalizer” Washington plays Robert McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is “The Equalizer.”
The Source Magazine sat down with star Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua for an exclusive interview. Check out what they had to say below:
Congratulations on the film! I want to start out with a music question. Can you tell us how the Eminen x Sia song “Guts Over Fear” came about because I know you were supposed to work with Eminem for your next film “Southpaw.”
Antoine Fuqua: Kind of at the end actually, in the editing, when we were starting to work on the trailer. I was still talking to Eminem about doing some work for “Southpaw” and his manager said that he had a track I would love and when I heard the track, I think it was Sony who went and got it because he wouldn’t let anybody hear it. They physically took it over to him and let us hear it and brought it to me and I was like perfect, so it came in in post [production].
Robert McCall is an incredible character, can you tell us about bringing him to life.
Denzel Washington: Well I liked looking for the flaws and researching this OCD and that obsessive behavior. You know I just didn’t want a guy who was just running around kicking butt and can’t do anything wrong, but he was a guy who was sort of hiding and had issues and in a sense this young girl helps him to deal with his own issues.
Antoine, can you speak about reuniting with this legend Mr. Denzel Washington?
Denzel Washington: Oh boy! Legend … Doesn’t that mean it’s over when they start called you a legend?
Antoine Fuqua: (laughs) Not even close. Not even close!
Denzel Washington: No? You can be a legend and still work?
Antoine Fuqua: Yeah, man! Absolutely.
Denzel Washington: Ok!
Antoine Fuqua: It was amazing. It was amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to work with Denzel again.
Denzel Washington: We work well together, we get along and Antoine is very talented. I never have to question, or even think. I never have to worry about it … I just come out of the trailer ready and hit it.
We spoke with Chloe Grace Moretz a few weeks ago and Antoine, she said that you are one of the best directors she has ever worked with and Denzel she said you are brilliant and amazing and that she learned so much from you. Can you speak about working with her?
Antoine Fuqua: I loved Chloe. She’s so talented and she was only 16 at the time. And I was just blown away by her.
Denzel Washington: Yes, she’s a pro. She’s just a pro.
Antoine Fuqua: She is, she is a pro.
There are some amazing fight scenes and just how it’s shot is so fascinating. Can you speak about your vision for the film?
Antoine Fuqua: You know it’s funny, because I shoot it to not get in the way of the action, so that’s really how I shot and it’s just the best way to capture the environment so it’s almost like a Caravaggio painting, they are beautiful, but they can be violent. You know what I mean? That’s how I see it. So it’s like a beautiful painting with violence.
Denzel Washington: I got to go back and look at Caravaggio now. Michelangelo da Caravaggio.
Antoine Fuqua: Yes, exactly.
Denzel Washington: Yeah, I know! I took art appreciation!
Antoine Fuqua: Yes I’m saying, if you look at some of his paintings they’re are so violent.
Denzel Washington: They’re violent …
Antoine Fuqua: But they’re religious.
Denzel Washington: Right, right!
Antoine Fuqua: Dirty fingernails in it and everything else, you know? Nasty!
Can you speak about executing those fight scenes. You worked with Keith Woulard and the stunt coordinators. Tell us about that process? Those scenes as so flawless.
Denzel Washington: Well for that it’s like a hot knife through butter. You just want to be quiet with your motion and move through people and you know I’m as good as the teachers and they’re brilliant. Those guys are some serious, serious fighters. And I read the script, so I knew I was going to win.
Team Winning!
Denzel Washington: Team Winning!
Antoine Fuqua: Team Winning!
Can you share your favorite moment from set?
Antoine Fuqua: The first day!
Denzel Washington: Yeah, every day. It was an easy, fun, shoot. I can’t pick one day.
Antoine Fuqua: Great, all the way through, yes!
