Flawed but Entertaining.

Rating: 7/10 (11 March 2006)

I just watched the movie for the second time. I wasn't impressed like the first time, but still liked it. This movie hasn't got any depth beyond the plot, this is not Fight Club or Sixth Sense, where watching the film second time around, reveals some details you didn't see before. Here the second watch didn't add anything new to me (except of finding new holes in the plot), but I still liked it and haven't got any disgusting feelings about it as others did. I wasn't bored either.
First of all I liked the plot.I liked the idea of the whole movie taking place in one day. And most of all I liked the acting of the leading roles. Specially of Denzel Washington (and I really don't care about the award).
I really don't understand most of the complaints people have about this movie. It's not perfect and there are some plot holes ( which most of the complaints don't even touch), but even though it's entertaining. And definitely not the worst movie like some say. Of course there were movies about "bad cop - good cop" , but not in this scheme. I think it had even some originality in it. And if you don't like Violence in movies - don't see it. But don't say you hate this movie because of the violence. Training Day's genre is violence. Finally to the character of Alonzo. I honestly think that Russel Crow should have the Oscar. He had a much deeper character to portray (in Beautiful mind), and did an excellent job with it. Nevertheless, the character of Alonzo was about one of the worst kind of people that there are on earth ( and if you see some documentary investigation, you understand that such people exist). Don't complain that you didn't like the character, I hated him either, that's why I think Denzel Washington made a great effort. Some credit to Ethan Hawke also.
Some holes in the plot: 1) I think the most visible one, and the most annoying is the one-to-million coincidence of Lisa being the cousin of Smiley. What chances that Lisa's wallet would save Hoyt? 2) Hoyt isn't used to narcotics and we see it on the effect the drugs have on him. But so strong of an effect should have take longer in time to recover from it. 3) After Smiley releases Jake he immediately goes to Alonzo's house. How did he remember where Alonzo lives? He couldn't remember it from one ride being on narcotics. 4) At the end of the movie Hoyt got serious beating from Alonzo. He was face smashed through the window, got hit with a chair, kicked and punched and after all that he managed to stand back and ready to fight again in a couple of minutes.
As I said. This movie is flawed, but still entertaining.