Unusual study of ethics

Rating: Null/10 (12 February 2003)

Definitely a bit different this one.
For his performance, Denzel Washington received a best actor oscar as the narcotics officer who takes the naive Jake (Ethan Hawke) under his wing. Constantly referred to as a rookie, Jake goes on a training day to see if he can handle the street as presented to him by Alonzo (Denzel), and cope with the way narc officers deal with the law.
It's a supremely well-told story, because nothing is given to the viewer on a plate. Every feeling you have towards the main characters is your own, and the movie never attempts to dictate your emotive response. This is a rarity in the sentimentally-driven industry Hollywood frequently is. The performances are utterly excellent, and Ethan Hawke does equally as well as Washington in my opinion - the only difference being that Washington's character has more scope and more of the opportunity to be dynamic.

The movie is objective, never takes sides, and gives the viewers the chance to deduce their own feelings. That's how cinema should be.
Fine movie.