Good performances but flawed movie

Rating: Null/10 (31 March 2002)

Denzel and Ethan are indeed excellent in this mostly taut, well paced drama. Denzel's performance as a corrupt cop beautifully rubs against the possibility of excess, but bever crosses the line. Ethan playing an honest cop, looks increasingly bewildered by his unexpected wild ride, but he never loses his footing. Still, Training Day is one of those infuriating movies that could have been much better if the writer and director had trusted the audience more. The movie is seriously undermined by the "motivation" provided for Denzel's corrupt actions on this day, namely, his need to obtain money to pay off the Russian mafia. Denzel's character has already been set up well to have the mixed motivations of ridding the world of major drug figures and, at the same time, enrich himself for the risk he is taking. His complex character, and the tension with Ethan's character, drive the plot. The extra motivation undermines the drama, making it a more standard shoot 'em up. So for most of the film, the tension and drama is high. But the last few scenes undermine the drama.