Denzel Washington’s directorial dreams

In The Book of Eli sees you do many intense fight routines. How was the fight choreography? Was it rigorous for you?
Yeah. It was a lot of fun, actually. Jeff Amata who is a disciple of Danny Inosanto is a contemporary of Bruce Lee. So, I was training with some of the top guys. That was hard but it was a lot of fun just to stretch every day. I read the script. I know I win! (chuckles) Just to go down that road, that avenue was fun.

Is yours a messianic character?
We all have a job to do. This was his. It’s interesting if you look at it as a spiritual journey. His biggest test is right at the end. He’s almost to the “promised land” for him. Yet he has to go through the valley.

How surprised are you that an action film can be spiritual and the script is metaphysical in a way?
My son is one of the producers. John David (Washington). He
really pushed me to do three films. The other two were completely
different. But he’s the one who really pushed me to do Training Day. He said, because you’ve never done anything like that. In this case, he really got his teeth into this story and he’s a very very spiritual young man, and a unique individual. He got behind and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. The spiritual journey, once I bought into that, and really went full steam ahead and bought into and believed in the Hughes Brothers and their vision, we did a lot of work on the screenplay and just strengthened that aspect of the story. It’s cliche. But it sort of good against evil. Yet here’s a guy who has heard the voice of God yet this young innocent (Mila’s character), like when I had the big hatchet and was getting ready to destroy this guy for no reason, (my character) has gotten too far gone, and she’s the one who says stop. And things change from that point.

Having directed, do you take those nuances into these movies where you’re acting?
Just the process. Playing the parts—that’s something I do. I remember years ago I was talking to Warren Beatty. And I didn’t want to be in the first film I directed, and he said, no, you should be. I said why? And he said because it’s a way in that you know. You’re used to it as an actor. So I took that even further. I said I’ll look at all the parts. What would I say? Not that I would change every line or everything, but it’s a way in.

Do you plan to direct again?
I plan to, yeah.

Has your criteria changed?
Sure. It used to be, I’ll take it! I’ll take it! (laughs). Kinda! I don’t know. It depends on what I’ve done and it depends on upon where I am in life and where it’s shooting.

Heard you will be seen on Broadway?
(The play is) Fences. Viola Davis is in it. I’m just finishing up Tuesday with Tony Scott. Of course, hanging off the side of a train, and working on this play. The play is on Broadway. We start previews around the first of April.