The ominous phrase written by Denzel Washington in his training day script

By the end of the 1990s, Denzel Washington seemed to have done it all. after His breakout role in the best Civil War film ever, 1989’s Glory. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and went on to receive another Academy Award nomination for his performances in 1992’s “Malcom Less cerebral like the thriller “Crimson Tide” and the crime drama “The Bone Collector.”

But by the end of the millennium, there was still one thing Denzel had never done: play a bad guy. The actor was so naturally charismatic that Hollywood would never think to waste such charm on a villain, so Denzel remained a good guy until 2001. However, that year, he appeared in the film that not only brought him his second Oscar. A win, but it will also mark his transition into playing villains – and what a debut it will be.

“Training Day” was written by David Ayer, who injected the screenplay with his real-life experiences growing up in deprived Los Angeles neighborhoods. Director Antoine Fuqua took things a step further in this regard, using real gangs and real locations in South Los Angeles to film the film about a corrupt LAPD narcotics officer who takes a rookie cop for a day of evaluation. But while the contributions of Ayer and Fuqua were integral to creating what remains one of the best crime thrillers of the era, it was Denzel’s unbridled commitment to his role, and the ease with which he inverted his charisma to create one of the greatest villains on screen. , and that’s what made “Training Day” truly a modern classic and one of the Most watched Denzel movies.

How did the man make this transition so smoothly? It certainly took a lot of time, but it seems to have started with a single phrase that he wrote on his copy of the Training Day script.

when Denzel Washington was chosen to participate in the movie “Training Day,” which sparked a lot of controversy. The concern among groups like the NAACP was that after building more than a decade of good faith playing respectable, morally upright characters, Denzel was about to waste it all playing a truly despicable individual in the movie. Figure of LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris. But there was no need to worry, because although Alonzo was obnoxious in Denzel’s hands, he was also eminently watchable, to the point where his charm distracted from his corrupt dealings.

In the film, Alonzo takes Jake Hoyt, played by Ethan Hawke, out for the day while doing his drug business. As the film continues, Alonzo reveals the depths of his depravity, as Jake is forced to confront the deterioration of the very essence of power he works for. It all ends with an all-time classic scene as Denzel’s cop confronts Jake and a whole group of gang members who demand answers about his dodgy dealings and the repercussions.

By all accounts, Denzel had an absolute ball playing Alonzo, improvising throughout the shot and bringing a charisma that only he can do. But it seems the actor never forgot how serious the story he was telling was. talking to Morning call In 2021, he recalls writing one decidedly dark phrase on his copy of the “Training Day” script that opened up the entire film for him. As Washington explained to the outlet:

“The first thing I wrote in my script was: ‘The wages of sin is death,’ and that’s the movie for me. Once I wrote that on the page, I felt like I could be as evil as I wanted to be.” Because I knew what was coming, I knew what was in store for him, and he’s getting what he deserves.

The phrase “for the wages of sin is death” comes from the beginning of the Bible verse in Romans 6:23, which says in full “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus for us.” Lord.” It refers to the idea that wages are something given to the individual for whom one has worked, and in this case, sin is said to result in the individual receiving death as his or her wages.

After reading the entire script for “Training Day,” Denzel Washington realized that the film was in no way trying to glorify Alonzo’s actions. It was a tale about someone who thought the system had figured out enough to work it to his advantage, but was unable to escape the cosmic justice coming his way as a result of all the heinous acts he had committed.

For an actor who’s never played a villain before, you have to marvel at Denzel’s ability to succinctly get to the bottom of the character before filming even begins. The statement he wrote in his script is not a condemnation of Alonzo himself, but an acknowledgment of how the character has transcended and cannot escape the cosmic ramifications. In Denzel’s own words“He’s confused, he’s crossed the line, he’s angry, but he’s not all bad. I think in some ways he’s done his job very well. He’s learned how to manipulate, how to push the line further and further, and in the process, he’s gotten tougher in some ways.” “The men he’s chasing.”