Hollywood heavyweights Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington play roles on different sides of the law in their latest flick, but they certainly seemed to have a whole lot in common when the cameras stopped rolling as they were snapped dissolving into laughter.
The popular actors were getting on famously as they shot scenes on the New York set of their film American Gangster - based on the real life story of Harlem drug lord-turned-informant Frank Lucas, played by Denzel. New-Zealand-born star Russell, 42, plays the cop Richie Roberts who helps bring him to justice and then works with him to expose corruption.
Friendships on the movie, which is due out later next year, have apparently made the filming process that bit easier. It's Russell's third collaboration with director Ridley Scott – they recently shot romantic flick A Good Year together – and they both agree their rapport is better than ever.
"A lot of things are now unspoken," says Ridley, "which gets a lot of mileage out of the way. When you're working with an actor for the first time, you've got to dance a bit and waltz a bit. We don't have to do that now," he added.
But it was no doubt the presence of the Gladiator star's eldest son Charles who made the father-of-two most at ease. The toddler, who turns three in December, joined his famous dad on set as he experienced movie magic first-hand. "I'm very involved in being a dad," said Russell last year. "My days, if they start in the morning with a cuddle from my son, are just so much more glorious than they were prior to that." The Oscar-winner's second little boy, Tennyson, was born in July.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
