Brutal but Effective Film Noir

Rating: 8/10 (24 October 2002)

I had put off seeing "Training Day" until it came to the premium movie channels on cable. I only watched then because of the critical acclaim Denzel Washington's performance had received. I'm glad I finally saw it. Alonzo Harris (Washington) is a murderous, delusional, manipulative sociopath but we almost like him despite ourselves. Ethan Hawke gives the best performance of his career as the idealistic but thrill seeking, Jake Hoyt who, to his ultimate sorrow, is assigned as Harris's partner on the LAPD narcotics detail. Some have complained that the final scenes of the film are preposterous. While this may be so, these scenes are effective and tell an exciting and engaging story. Harris's irredeemable sleaziness is almost too much to bear, but the movie succeeds, nevertheless. Highly recommended, 8 out of 10.