Sometimes when a director and actor meet, it's a match made in movie heaven — so why wouldn't they team up again? Pairings like Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have held on to partnerships for years, creating scores of wonderful films. These are the relationships I want to celebrate: that particular kinship between a filmmaker and a muse. Take a look through to see some of my all-time favorite duos.
We've seen Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington play badasses on the big screen plenty of times before, but seeing them together takes things to a new level. In the trailer for 2 Guns, Wahlberg and Washington play Marcus and Bobby, a pair of criminals who rob a bank together. It's a little remniscent of The Town (I blame the creepy masks) until — twist! — Marcus reveals himself as an undercover Naval Officer. But wait — double twist! — Bobby is undercover, too, except he's a DEA agent. Turns out they were set up, and now they have to work together to take down the real bad guys, who are led by a very creepy-looking Bill Paxton.
2 Guns could be easily passed off as another run-of-the-mill action movie, except that Wahlberg and Washington are so perfect together. The trailer has a few laugh-out-loud moments thanks to the banter between their two characters, which is enough reason to make me want to check it out. The film hits theaters Aug. 2, and you can watch the trailer when you read more
Flight star Denzel Washington was celebrating his sixth Academy Award nomination at today's Oscars Luncheon, and the actor graciously answered a couple questions for the press. The best part of Washington's interview, though, was when he shared his favorite Oscar memory from years past, revealing how supportive his daughter is, even when she was too little to get his opponents' names correct.
On whether any real-life pilots have had any strong reactions to his portrayal: "Nothing negative . . . or too positive. I talked to a couple of pilots I fly with pretty regularly. They know it's acting."
On his fondest memory of being nominated for an Oscar: "My daughter drew a picture of Oscar, and it said, "You're my Oscar anyway. Plus, I don't like Kevin Space."
On fellow nominee Quvenzhané Wallis: "Was she here? I gotta meet her! Maybe if I'm nice to her, she'll put me in one of her movies."
Denzel Washington hits marquees again this week with Flight, in which his pilot character miraculously lands a plane doomed for destruction. Washington has been around for what feels like forever, so see how well you've been following his career by matching the image to the title. Good luck!
Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington shared scenes with Paula Patton last night on the New Orleans set of 2 Guns. Denzel arrived in casual attire, then changed into a crisp Naval uniform. Mark, meanwhile, showed off his ripped muscles in a tight tank. Mark's dedication to fitness is one of the many reasons he's in the running to be this year's PopSugar shirtless champ. He's up against other well-toned stars like Chris Hemsworth, Joe Manganiello, Tom Cruise, and David Beckham — have you filled out your shirtless bracket yet? Mark's sharing the secret to his chiseled abs and bulging biceps, recently starring in a video detailing elements of his workout routine. The fitness buff is also talking up a line of nutrition supplements he's endorsing, appropriately named Marked.
Denzel Washington has already proven his superhuman skills at stopping trains on-screen, but now it appears he's just as apt at landing planes. In Flight, Washington plays Whip, an airline pilot who miraculously lands a plane as it's about to crash. While he is initially celebrated as an American hero for saving the lives of almost all the passengers, eventually investigations surface and questions about the alcohol content in his blood arise. Attorneys scramble to figure out if they have a case against Whip, but soon realize that no one else could have landed that flight safely.
I didn't expect to be as excited by this trailer as I am. I love that director Robert Zemeckis paired it with the haunting "Gimme Shelter" and Washington, Don Cheadle, and John Goodman make for a compelling cast. It also doesn't look like a straightforward hero story; Whip clearly has his own demons, which come into play when he has to deal with the public backlash caused by his investigation. It also opens the door that it may not have been his skills as a pilot, but divine intervention that saved the plane. The flick comes out Nov. 2, and you can watch the trailer when you read more.
The Academy Awards are less than five days away and we're counting down with a look back at some winning moments. Halle Berry's touching speech was a highlight, as was Reese Witherspoon's shining moment — and we've rounded them all up. Click through to see the award worthy photos, and don't forget to fill out your 2012 Oscar ballot for a chance to win an iPad 2!
While working for the CIA may seem like a dream job, Matt Weston's (Ryan Reynolds) current position at a Safe House is certainly no picnic. He's a new agent, stationed alone in South Africa, waiting for the chance that he will have a "house guest" (someone who is taken prisoner by the CIA.) Matt's desperately trying to get some field experience so he can be stationed in some other city where he can see a little action. After a year of boredom, his wish comes true when Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) arrives.
I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout the film, and felt everyone in the theater being equally enraptured with what was unraveling before our eyes. Safe House has high-stakes moments cut with sardonic, nonchalant comedy that Reynolds and Washington both pull off nicely. I felt connected to everyone's struggles, but the plot kept me unsure if I wanted the good guy or the bad guy to come out on top. To find out why Safe House exceeded my expectations, just keep reading.
Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington teamed up last night for their NYC premiere of Safe House. Denzel posed on the red carpet with his wife Pauletta, though Ryan's real-life leading lady, Blake Lively, sat the event out. A pregnant Molly Sims stepped out for the screening, showing off her baby bump alongside husband Scott Stuber. There has been lots of time for Ryan and Denzel to bond over the last few weeks as they promoted the film. They even took a quick trip to Spain, where they had a photocall and a fun visit to the set of El Hormiguero. Ryan and Denzel filmed the picture last Spring and Summer in South Africa. They'll see if all the hard work pays off when the movie hits theaters this Friday on Feb. 10.
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds continued their Safe House promotional tour yesterday with a stop by Spanish television's El Hormiguero. The variety show has hosted a wide range of A-list celebrities over the years, including Jennifer Aniston and Tom Cruise. The program gets the stars involved in puppet shows, magic tricks and science experiments. For his part, Denzel joined in the fun by attempting a complicated pool shot while Ryan tried to pull off an optical illusion.
The guys are charming their way across Europe and are scheduled to blitz NYC next week with appearances on The Late Show and Live With Kelly. Their stop in the Big Apple might give Ryan a chance to catch up with girlfriend Blake Lively, who is back to work on the set of Gossip Girl. Things seems to be going well for the couple while Ryan and ex Scarlett Johansson listed their LA home for $3.65 million earlier this week. Ryan and Scarlett shared the Los Feliz ranch during their marriage, but both have since moved on to other properties. She's also been spotted holding hands with new boyfriend Nate Naylor on the East Coast.
