TRAINING DAY

2001

I've never seen Denzel Washington play a role like this one before...and he's brilliant. In "Training Day" he's a rogue cop, who "polices" his inner-city (L.A.) beat using the laws of the jungle. Today is training day, where he gets to break in a rookie cop, (played by the always-excellent Ethan Hawke;) a cop who lives by the rule-book, and by the "good cops" code of ethics. The combination is a deadly one! All of the action takes place in the course of one day, and be warned, there's more action and violence in this film than you would expect to find in a film of such quality. Credit the fine actors, and the excellent director, Antoine Fuqua ("The Replacement Killers") for making it thoroughly believable, and often uncomfortable to watch. Look for some Best Actor nominations come Oscar time.

5 Stars

NJB

I have to say that I really got fooled by this film. From the preview, and even through the first hour of the film, I thought that this was going to be a serious, social commentary on the policing of a violent, drug congested community. Denzel Washington is a tough, cynical narcotics cop in Los Angeles who is taking trainee Ethan Hawke out for a day in the life and to see what Hawke is really made of. Washington and Hawke seem to feed off each other and give us some good performances. The first half is highlighted by the dialogue between the two. The second half of the film switches gears and becomes basically just another rediculous action thriller. Rediculous or not, however, it's still pretty tense and I did enjoy it. And I'm happy to say that I've finally found a movie I like Ethan Hawke in.

4 Stars

CDF