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Denzel Washington, considered one of the best actors in the film industry, delivered a powerful and memorable performance in Training Day, a film that stands as one of the highlights in his illustrious career. Washington’s portrayal of corrupt detective Alonzo Harris earned him a well-deserved Best Actor award at the Oscars.
One of the standout scenes in Training Day is a monologue where Harris, cornered by gang members on the street, defiantly declares, “King Kong ain’t got shit on me.” This iconic moment, etched in cinematic history, was not originally scripted but emerged spontaneously during filming. Director Antoine Fuqua revealed to Vanity Fair that the powerful line was entirely Denzel Washington’s creation.
Fuqua recounted the moment, saying, “The King Kong moment came out of Denzel. I remember that moment because we were doing the scene, and he just started going off. I remember looking at the cameraman and saying: ‘I hope you got that, because I don’t think we’re going to get that again’. Denzel came over to me and goes: ‘Whoo, I don’t know where that came from’. It was exhausting for him; you saw him just go there in that place. It was one of those moments where it gave you chills.”
This spontaneous and powerful contribution from Washington added an extra layer of authenticity and intensity to the film, solidifying Training Day as one of the best thriller movies of its time. The collaboration between Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua has continued, with their upcoming project, The Equalizer 3, set for release this year.