Awesome no-brainer film with great acting. Spoilers

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2002)

To christen my brand new PlayStation 2, I wanted to see my first ever film on the DVD format and I chose this one. I'm glad I did; Training Day is an outstanding film, even if it's a bit of a no-brainer.
What elevates this one from others is the acting. Denzel Washington, in his Oscar-winning performance, does a superb job playing Det. Alonzo Harris, a corrupt LAPD officer who is given the task of breaking in rookie NARC Jake Hoyt (played by Ethan Hawke, who was nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar). As Hoyt slowly finds out that his cohort is the shadiest cop in the universe, involved in corrupt dealings with gangs, drug lords, and stealing of dirty money in conjuction with other renegade cops. Hoyt needs to bring him down to save his own bacon. Still, despite the obvious ending to the story, the ride is well worth it because the acting is uniformly excellent. Denzel plays against type, instead of the amiable types of people or rogues, here he plays a cruel, evil, cocky, SOB; but he doesn't overplay it. Hawke plays the good cop beautifully, but fortunately he's not a goody-two-shoes type, as he goes on his rounds with Washington in the inner-city of L.A. (some of the movie was actually filmed in Compton).
A supporting cast with Scott Glenn and hip-hop stars Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Macy Gray will be of big interest to some. The direction by Antoine Fuqua and writing of David Ayer is first-rate. The DVD includes deleted scenes, an alternate ending, two music videos, the usual documentary, and other goodies. While the debate of whether Denzel or Russell Crowe deserved to win Best Actor will last for awhile, I have no plans to see A Beautiful Mind, so Denzel deserved to win in my book. Highly recommended.