American Gangster-Denzel Washington, Lymari Nadal Interviews
Denzel Washington stars as Frank Lucas, a real life notorious drug dealer who made over $200 million dollars before going to jail in American Gangster, co-starring Russell Crowe. Gorgeous big screen newcomer Lymari Nadal plays Frank's wife, Eva.
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Transcript: American Gangster-Denzel Washington, Lymari Nadal Interviews
Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at a special Los Angeles screening of American Gangster.
Denzel Washington ('Frank Lucas')
Denzel Washington: "You know I don't like to categorize – good guy, bad guy. One has to decide for one's self who the bad guy is in this film, who the gangster is in this film."
It's tough because you're so charming on the screen yet he's not a good guy, so how do you sell that?
Denzel Washington: "Thank you. That was a good answer!"
Is it tough to walk that fine line?
Denzel Washington: "I don't have to walk it. All I do is play the part and then people describe it after the fact. I don't go into it saying, 'Oh, I'm going to be tough and charming.' I just interpret the role the way I see it and people respond to it the way they see it."
What about the fascination with gangsters? Did you have that too?
Denzel Washington: "No, no. I think the title has affected the questioning. Before it was called Tru Blue. That's not very interesting, so they changed it to American Gangster. I didn't change anything about the way I approached the role."
And you stuck with it for a long time.
Denzel Washington: "Actually, I was off of it for a couple of years and then they came back to me when Ridley Scott got attached. Then I was like, 'Okay, I'm in.'"
What does Ridley Scott bring as a director?
Denzel Washington: "Brilliance."
Lymari Nadal ('Eva Lucas')
Where you familiar at all with this part of our American history when you got the role?
Lymari Nadal: "I've seen the Shaft movie but I got more excited because I was close to Frank Lucas and to Eva Lucas and to Richie Roberts, the real people, so I really got to know more about it. And plus the work Ridley does on the film, you really get it.
The script was fabulous. There was a lot of information there, but then meeting her, meeting Frank, meeting Richie, it just made it all richer. All this information coming at you, it was just great."
How was it working with Denzel Washington?
Lymari Nadal: "Beautiful. I mean, waking up every morning to see him and Russell – I mean basically Ridley and him were the most I saw during all this process. It was a blessing."
Is this your first feature film?
Lymari Nadal: "I did a film in Puerto Rico - Thieves and Liars, but yes."
This is your first big American production. Do you think this one is going to spoil you for all your next films? You'll expect to be working with Denzel and Ridley Scott.
Lymari Nadal: "I'm working on that because of course I worked with the best in the industry from the writer to the editor and producer, actors, everyone. It's all going to be in the story and hopefully I'll be in good hands from now on."
What are we going to see you in next?
Lymari Nadal: "I don't have anything else aligned. I'm also developing something very special and we'll see."
A script that you're working on or another type of project?
Lymari Nadal: "We got the rights to tell the life story of a great Puerto Rican lady."
Producer Brian Grazer enters the interview.
Brian Grazer: "You're still talking? I keep interrupting you."
She was just praising you.
Brian Grazer: "Oh please say more."
Lymari Nadal: "Yes, and very beautiful people that were involved in this film are helping me to develop this."
So you made some good connections when you were working?
Lymari Nadal: "Yes, oh yes."
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