Training Day

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tom Berenger (cameo), Eva Mendes, Macy Gray
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Rating: R
Genre: Thriller, Crime
2001

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A rookie police detective, Jake (Ethan Hawke) goes to his first day at the office, with veteran narcotics detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). Jake is shocked to learn that in his investigating, Alonzo rarely follows the rules or the laws. As Jakes gets deeper and deeper into Alonzo's business, he will have to decide whether to hold onto his naive ideals of policework, or join Alonzo in his effective but illegal practices.

Review:

Tim: Training Day is really about one thing and one thing only- the incredible and awe-inspiring performance of Denzel Washington. He blows away all of his good-guy performances and proves he has everything you could ever ask for in a bad guy. He took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance here.

Ethan Hawke was perfectly cast. He is the ideal match for Washington. Hawke is young and naive while Washington is experienced and street smart. Watching these two actors together is amazing. Hawke may make quite a career for himself if he can keep supporting great actors in great films.

The entire film is a showing off of the darker side of narcotics police work. Oftentimes it is difficult to imagine police officers could act the way Washington does, but we know it to be a reality in some cases. We as an audience as just as shocked and torn as Hawke. It is so interesting because Hawke is given the choice to join Washington or not, and we as the audience struggle with how we want him to act.

The concluding climactic scene between Washington and Hawke is as dramatic as scenes go. Washington can act like few other human beings can- "King Kong ain't got sh*t on me!" Watch him deliver this line and try to tell me he can't act.

Washington earned his first Best Actor Academy Award for completely going against his typical role and giving perhaps the best performance of his life. He carries this movie and makes it as enjoyable and amazing as it is. I for one wouldn't mind seeing Washington in the bad guy role at some point in the future. Who knows, he might pick up another Oscar.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Out of Time, Taking Lives, The Replacement Killers, Virtuosity