Some flaws but, overall, a very intense crime drama.

Rating: 8/10 (18 April 2002)

I've always had a favorable bias toward Denzel Washington.
When I first saw him playing the son of George Segal in the horrible comedy "Carbon Copy" many years ago, I thought he was the brightest spot in the film.
I've been impressed with his work for many years. Arguably, with some exceptions, his presence in a bad movie, can raise the rating of a movie a few notches.
I don't believe "Training Day" was a great crime drama. There were some glaring plot contrivances and a number of underwritten supporting characters made me wonder if David Ayer's screenplay wasn't thought out in its entirety.
Despite those flaws, there was a lot to admire in the movie: Denzel's outstanding, charismatic performance as the rogue L.A. detective, Ethan Hawke's fine supporting role as the young protégé caught in a very dangerous corruption web and Antoine Fuqua's stylish direction of the most important characters: the neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
Did Denzel Washington deserve the Oscar for this performance? I still say no. I preferred his performances in "Malcolm X" and "The Hurricane".
(Of course, Al Pacino deserved it for "The Godfather Part II" and/or "Serpico" and not "Scent of a Woman" and Russell Crowe deserved it for "The Insider" and/or "A Beautiful Mind" and not "Gladiator" and, personally, I thought Tom Wilkinson gave the best performance this past year for "In The Bedroom". But the decisions have been made, they won't be changed in the record books and there will always be disputes on who should win an award for which film. Digression is over. Goodbye!)