Thought provoking but not 100% plausible

Rating: Null/10 (12 May 2006)

Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke provide excellent performances, but the plot has some obvious holes. Nevertheless, the reason I think highly of the movie is because it really explores the conflict that undercover officers face- to be very effective, one must almost become a criminal. Morality is not always crystal clear. I think the message of the movie is this- Denzel's character crosses the line and it thoroughly corrupts him which leads to his demise. In the course of the "Training Day", Ethan Hawke's character sees what one must do to reach the pinnacle of effectiveness as a narc cop, but in the end, he rejects that philosophy because he sees the paradox. One cannot claim to be an officer of the law, however effective at fighting crime, if one engages in criminal activity to achieve the effectiveness. This is an incredibly profound and compelling concept for all cops. Do you "create" justification to pull over a vehicle you suspect may be involved in criminal activity? Does the end justify the means? Is society better off with cops whose methods may be immoral but whose results are extremely productive? Great food for thought and debate.