Denzel's great!

Rating: 7/10 (26 April 2002)

[possible spoiler]

If you ever ask yourself if one performance can make a film, all you need to do is take a look at "Training Day." Denzel Washington delivers one of his very best acting jobs ever, as what must be the most corrupt law enforcement officer portrayed by a leading actor. The character is not unlike Robert DeNiro's Travis Bickle; at first he walks a *very* narrow line between sanity and madness, and to his credit he does a fairly good job (up to a point) in barely keeping himself on the right side. We may not like him, or approve of his actions, but we accept him as he is, as well as the fact that he has reasons for what he does that seem perfectly logical and sensible to him.
Some critics have been hard on Ethan Hawke, probably because Washington outshines him. That's missing the point. The Hawke character's purpose in the film is to provide a foil, a contrast to his partner's insanity. They are complete opposites, and it's interesting to notice that while Hawke is more idealistic and "upright," he's also a bit naive, and tends to see things in black and white. Washington, on the other hand, perceives the world in shades of gray. While that's probably the more accurate and balanced outlook, he simply goes too far, and pays the price.
Is the ending a bit overdone? Yes, it is, but no one will deny it's effective. It was inevitable that his actions would backfire on him. As the film proceeds, he descends further and further into his self-created morass. There is a point in the film where it is immediately apparent that he has finally reached critical mass, and there's no turning back. I was reminded of the Biblical proverb, "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword." The wisdom of that statement is all too apparent when applied to the character.
*** (out of ****)
Released by Warner Bros.