Thescreescore – At the Toronto International Film Festival, Ryan Reynolds recounted a hilarious anecdote about his phone interrupting a pivotal, emotional scene with Denzel Washington during the filming of the 2012 action thriller, Safe House. The $208 million-grossing film, directed by Daniel Espinosa, features Reynolds as a rookie CIA agent and Washington as a dangerous fugitive. The incident occurred during a climactic scene where Washington’s character, Tobin Frost, confesses his misdeeds while bleeding out.
Reynolds vividly described the scene, explaining that Washington, known for his meticulous approach to acting, had rehearsed the emotionally charged moment extensively. Then, disaster struck. Mid-scene, during a crucial take, Reynolds’ phone blared out Frank Sinatra’s "Come Fly With Me," shattering the intensity of the moment. Reynolds’ comedic retelling paints a picture of panicked scrambling, with the director and first assistant director demanding to know the culprit, before Denzel himself, breaking character, roared, "Whose phone is that?!"
Reynolds, feigning ignorance, deflected the blame onto the surrounding stuntmen, eventually confessing his role in the disruption. Washington, despite the interruption, graciously agreed to reshoot the scene, a testament to his professionalism and dedication.
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This anecdote not only highlights Washington’s commitment to his craft but also underscores the often-unseen chaos behind the scenes of even the biggest productions. While Safe House, despite its box office success, received mixed critical reviews (a 52% critics’ score and a 63% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), the film’s strengths lie in the undeniable chemistry and powerful performances of its two leads. The incident serves as a humorous reminder that even A-list stars are not immune to the unpredictable nature of filmmaking. It also leaves us wondering if this memorable mishap might have contributed to the lack of subsequent collaborations between these two Hollywood heavyweights. One thing’s for sure: if they ever reunite on screen, Reynolds’ phone will undoubtedly be on silent.
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