The star of Déjà Vu gets that old familiar feeling…
Acclaimed actor and perpetual “Sexiest Man Alive” nominee Denzel Washington returns to theaters this week with the Tony Scott techno-thriller Déjà Vu. Washington stars as a decorated ATF agent who is summoned to investigate after a bomb explodes aboard a New Orleans ferry filled with military personnel, killing hundreds.
Though it begins as a somewhat conventional crime drama, Déjà Vu quickly develops into something else entirely, as Washington’s character is introduced to a secret government program that utilizes cutting-edge technology to peek up to four days into the past.
The film’s plot features sophisticated concepts involving satellite surveillance and the space-time continuum – aspects that Washington admits made him a little hesitant. “Tony and Jerry [Bruckheimer] had to somewhat convince me that this could work,” says Washington. “The original screenplay, I was like, ‘Hmmm…I don’t know, fellas.’”
Director Scott assured him that the story was credible. “Tony was saying look, we want to steep this in facts about surveillance and what it's capable of and pushing that envelope and a lot of what we're doing and what you see, they are capable of,” says Washington. “I don't know about the multi-angles and all of that, but we do have the technology, as you all know, using Google Earth, you can look at somebody's house.”
In the course of his investigation, Washington’s character finds himself inexplicably drawn to one victim in particular – a woman who might hold the key to stopping the catastrophe entirely. Playing the mysterious woman is bubbly newcomer Paula Patton.
Washington found Patton’s energy invigorating. “On those days where you just don't feel like coming out of the trailer, then you meet this young person it's all fresh and new,” says Washington. “It reminds you. It takes you back.”
“It is a reminder of what a privilege it is to be in this industry and to be able to do what you like and to be compensated in an amazing and ridiculous way for doing something that you want to do.”
Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) plays a Timothy McVeigh-esque zealot who becomes the prime suspect in the ferry bombing.
Washington was a bit taken aback by Caveziel’s seriousness. “He is intense,” says Washington. “I was kind of surprised, like, ‘Whoa, okay, he's really investing in the dark side.’ He was willing to go the whole way. He's a very spiritual man and a very intense individual – and very good.”
Déjà Vu marks the third time Washington has worked with Tony Scott. The two previously collaborated successfully on Man on Fire and Crimson Tide.
For his next project, Washington teams up with Tony’s brother Ridley for the 1970s crime drama American Gangster.
After that, he plans to spend some time behind the camera. He’s lined up to direct The Great Debaters, about a debate team from a tiny Texas college that rises to become one of the nation’s best.
Déjà Vu opens nationwide on November 22nd.