Gritty.

Rating: 7/10 (1 October 2001)

Having heard very little about this film, I walked into a preview screening with no idea what to expect.
I have to say, I was entertained from start to finish. For me, that says a lot (just read some of my other recent reviews). And isn't being entertained what counts?
Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington are both superb in their roles, and are instantly beleivable as the naive beat cop and the veteran narcotics detective. Hawke questions Washington's over-the-line methods at every turn, only to be faced with the effectiveness of those methods. With so many recent headlines referencing scandal and internal investigations of police forces across the country, this film is relevant, and carries a gritty realism that left an impression in my mind.
Definately not an action summer blockbuster, but too good to be passed up...