Josh Brolin Recalls Tense Moment With Denzel Washington on ‘American Gangster’ Set

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As a devoted admirer of the cinematic arts, I find myself utterly captivated by the extraordinary lives and careers of some of our most talented actors. Among these titans, Denzel Washington and Josh Brolin stand out as two individuals who have graced the silver screen with their unparalleled performances.

During the filming of “American Gangster,” Denzel Washington’s intense Method acting almost sparked a confrontation with Josh Brolin. Washington is known for employing the method, which was pioneered by Stanislavski, but Brolin didn’t realize that his co-star was in character when they were rehearsing lines on set. Later, during an interview with Graham Bensinger, Brolin shared this story, adding, “Denzel and I have a great relationship now.

“Indeed, there was a tense moment… Denzel hadn’t quite taken his position on time, and it escalated into a situation… I was struggling to recall the script layout, and then we started practicing. It wasn’t many lines, mainly mine. I needed to portray unwavering self-assurance. It’s Denzel Washington, after all. It’s not a walk in the park. You’re just an actor being evaluated, to see if I can truly measure up, and I slipped up on a line.

Apart from Washington and Brolin, director Ridley Scott’s movie “American Gangster” boasted a stellar cast that included Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Armand Assante, Idris Elba, Norman Reedus, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ted Levine, and Carla Gugino. Interestingly, it was Brolin who had to adapt to Washington’s Method acting style in a short span of time. Later on, Brolin mentioned:

I gently touched his shoulder and asked, “Where’s the limit here?” However, he swiftly pushed my hand away. He responded angrily, “Never touch me like that again.” I was taken aback, thinking, “Wow, I might get into a fight with Denzel Washington! This is unbelievable.” In his perspective, he was simply performing his duties.

He was that guy, he was Frank Lucas, period! But I didn’t know. And then we got through that moment. And I said, ‘Are you okay?’ He said, ‘Yeah, you?’ I said, ‘Yeah. Can I get my line?’ He said, ‘Go for it.’ It’s like he’d said what he needed to say.”

Josh Brolin’s Acting Legacy Since ‘American Gangster’

It took Josh Brolin some time to understand that Denzel Washington was acting in character when he scolded the young actor on the set of American Gangster. This idea became clearer to Brolin a year later when they met again, and Washington was overjoyed to see him. Despite having worked consistently for more than 20 years, some of Brolin’s finest films were made following his impressive portrayal of Detective Trupo in American Gangster.

In the same year, Brolin appeared in the Coen Brothers’ neo-Western, “No Country for Old Men,” which later won four Academy Awards out of eight nominations. However, it wasn’t until he played Dan White in the Sean Penn-led “Milk” (2008) that he received his first and only Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actor.

Brolin gave standout performances in the movies which followed, including the must-sees Tru Grit, the Sicario saga, Deadpool 2, along with Dune and Dune: Part Two. However, Brolin will forever be remembered as the Mad Titan Thanos in Marvel’s box office blockbusters, most notably Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

However, this top-tier actor isn’t limiting himself to playing super-villains or being confined to superhero films. Instead, he’s branching out. Currently, you can catch him in the “Outer Range” series and the action-comedy “Brothers,” which stars Peter Dinklage and is streaming on Prime Video. For those who haven’t seen it, the classic film “American Gangster,” featuring Brolin and Washington, is available for viewing on Netflix.

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2024-11-24 02:02