An interesting exploration

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2005)

After watching all the special features on the DVD, I gained a better appreciation for this film. Both the director and the writer are "graduates" of project areas in the USA (Director: Pittsburgh, Writer: LA). The cast and crew spent a lot of time researching both the gang situation in east-central LA and the lives of undercover narcs. The film was pre-screened to gang members and the police to ensure its authenticity.
This is a gritty, not pretty film. It has not been hollywoodized to appeal to the masses. It doesn't have a happy ending, the good guys don't always win...much like real life. The movie projects a definite shade of gray, so please don't look for black hats and white hats. For Ethan Hawke's character, it is his journey into the Heart of Darkness, with Denzel Washington, as his Kurtz.
For those who complain that Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for best Actor; perhaps you should ask yourselves why he was not nominated for Malcolm X, and why he failed to win for The Hurricane. You may find a answer to that question, if you choose to view Training Day.