Today’s quick review: Training Day. Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is an LAPD cop who wants to transfer to Narcotics. To get the job, he must spend the day training under Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), a street-smart cop with a lax attitude toward the rules. But as effective as Alonzo’s methods are, they come with a cost, and Jake must decide just how far he is willing to go in his pursuit of justice.
Training Day is a crime drama that examines the fine line between pragmatism and corruption. The movie makes good use of its two impressive lead actors, throwing them into an unpredictable series of encounters as Jake follows Alonzo on his daily rounds. Their solid performances are backed by tight writing and intelligent progression, resulting in a well-crafted movie that spins a compelling tale from a few humble threads.
Though it poses as a standard cop movie, Training Day has an edge to it that sets it apart. Denzel Washington carries the movie with his forceful performance as Alonzo Harris, an amiable yet not entirely trustworthy mentor to Jake. Alonzo is a rarity in cinema: a dirty cop who actually seems to be doing some good. For his part, Ethan Hawke plays Jake Hoyt as a naive but capable rookie, willing to learn from Alonzo but skeptical of his methods.
Watch Training Day if you are in the mood for a well-crafted crime movie that captures the dynamism of life on the edge of the law. Its reliance on its characters and its subtle plot progression make Training Day a tougher watch than the usual action fare, but the extra attention is more than justified by its gripping storytelling and impressive performances.
7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for great characters and skillful writing.