A Brazen Morality Tale

Rating: Null/10 (7 October 2001)

"Training Day" is by far the most enthralling Cop movie in a very long time. Right from the beginning it breaks down every Hollywood cliche involving the genre, and makes very interesting observations on the dynamics between police and criminals in the LA underworld. The good cop bad cop metaphor is taken to new territory in this film.
In the movie, the idealism of rookie cop Jack Hoyt (Hawke) is violently juxtaposed with the Machiavelian cynicism of the veteran detective Alonzo (Washington).
(In my opinion Washington gives the most stunning portrayal of a jaded cop since Gary Oldman in "Romeo is Bleeding".)
I will not delve into a plot summary, however, I will note that Antoine Fuqua's third film is by far his most truthful and memorable. It stands so far above the entertaining but pointless 'Bait' and the just plain crappy 'Replacement Killers', that I cannot believe that they were made by the same man. In the previous two films it was as if Fuqua was trying to make movies that were to seem that they were autered by more prominent directors (John Woo and Michael Bay to be exact).
However, in this film, the director has garnered his own voice, and he has some very important things to say about race, right and wrong, cops and criminals, and about the lines that blur between them all.
The true brilliance of this film, however may not be the message that Fuqua wants to convey, but rather the sheer mix of subtlety and outright vicery though which he does convey it. This film is not perfect (which films are?) but it is very important, and it is very ballsy and that is what counts.
8.5/10.