A Day in the Life....

Rating: 8/10 (10 April 2002)

Denzel Washington won a long over due Oscar for his role of Detective Alonzo Harris in "Training Day". Washington, as is his custom fully buries himself into the role. He becomes Harris.
The plot, in a nutshell, has Officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) reporting to Harris for a day od on the job training in his undercover narcotics unit. Harris shows Hoyt the seamier side of Los Angeles and attempts to show him the ways of the streets. Director Antoine Fuqua takes us into the ghetto neighborhoods and introduces us to a way of life few outside the "hoods" have experienced.
Washington as mentioned is excellent, conveying ticking time bomb type of personality. Hawke, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role, is also outstanding as the "play by the rules" rookie. Rappers Snoop Doggy Dogg as a wheel chair bound drug dealer and Dr. Dre as a member of Harris' team give surprisingly effective performances in their roles. Scott Glenn does a nice turn as a drug dealing friend of Harris. And totally wasted as a member of "The Three Wise Men" is Tom Berenger, who has but one brief scene.
"Training Day" has a fair amount of violence and street language, but you will just sit in awe of Washington and Hawke's performances.