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Denzel Washington

February 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Denzel Washington 

Denzel Washington, “Forgettable” probably isn’t a word you’d expect to use to describe a film starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson and Sam Shepard. But unfortunately, that’s one of the most apt when pondering “Safe House.”

Directed by Daniel Espinosa from a script by David Guggenheim (not to be confused with “An Inconvenient Truth” director Davis Guggenheim), this is a frenetically paced jumble of shaky-cam tricks and quick edits, dizzying car chases and deafening shootouts. You’d be forgiven for mistaking it for yet another action thriller from Tony Scott, given that it bears his esthetic markings as well as the presence of Washington, his usual star.

This time, Washington plays the notorious Tobin Frost, a brilliant former CIA operative who’s turned traitor, selling secrets to any nation or enemy cell willing to buy them. After years on the run, he turns himself in at the American embassy in Cape Town, South Africa. He’s then taken to the local agency safe house where Reynolds, as the ambitious Matt Weston, is its bored, rookie minder.

Matt longs to prove himself and see some real action in the field, and he gets it sooner than he expects when the house comes under a vicious, heavily armed attack and he and Tobin must go on the run together. Farmiga, Gleeson and Shepard play the suits back in the United States who are tracking their whereabouts and wondering whether they’re in cahoots.

But everyone here is a potential rogue, because red herrings and double crosses abound; it’s a tactic meant to keep us guessing and (theoretically) distract us from the fact that the movie doesn’t have anything novel to do or say during its overlong running time. U.S. intelligence agents waterboard Tobin soon after bringing him to the house to get him to divulge what he knows (there’s a potentially damaging file at stake). Initially, this seems like the film’s attempt to shine a light on a divisive interrogation technique, but ultimately, “Safe House” reveals itself to be more interested in bombastic, bloody thrills than provocative, analytical thought.

Washington maintains his usual formidable presence but remains very much in his comfort zone. Sure, he’s playing a bad guy but he’s never pushed into functioning as a complete villain, and his banter as the cynical old pro opposite the young, idealistic Reynolds recalls his Oscar-winning work in “Training Day.” He’s smart and charming; he also may be right about some of his more untrustworthy colleagues. When he finally shaves off his shaggy, greying hair and goatee and flashes that dazzling smile of his, he’s once again the safe Denzel we know and love.

Denzel Washington Fordham University

October 6, 2011 by · Comments Off on Denzel Washington Fordham University 

Denzel Washington Fordham UniversityDenzel Washington Fordham University, Denzel Washington and donated more than 2 million to Fordham University for a new scholarship for undergraduate students and drama to a chair in the position of Theater, to be carried out by Tony-winning actress Phylicia Rashad.
“I wanted to Denzel Washington Scholarship and Endowed Chair of Theatre at Fordham to deliver the next generation of students to positive influences,” said the actor, who graduated from Fordham in 1977 in a statement. “Phylicia Rashad, as the inaugural holder of the chair, will provide the care, compassion, and that extra push to help bring students in which we are destined to go.”

The Associated Press reports that Washington and the provision of 2 million will go towards salary of the President, it will be a rotating position. Rashad, who played Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”, has started to teach an acting course at Fordham, entitled “Creating a character.”

An additional 250,000 to be established endowed scholarship Denzel Washington, to support minority students in the theater program of the University.

Washington won two Academy Awards for his roles in the 1989 film “Gloria” and the 2001 film “Training Day.”

The actor of 56 years of age, has also appeared in “Unstoppable”, “Deja Vu”, “The Book of Eli”, “The Bone Collector,” “Philadelphia” and “The Pelican Brief.”

Washington next appear in front of Ryan Reynolds and Vera Farmiga in “Safe House”, which goes on sale on February 10, 2012.

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