Deserving of the gold.

Rating: Null/10 (26 April 2002)

In this unflinching urban thriller, Ethan Hawke plays an idealistic cop named Jake Hoyt who pairs up with his new boss, Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), a charismatic, but evil Los Angeles narcotics officer who's out to taint the rookie on his very first day on the job. Washington won a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar for his chilling portrayal of the cop gone bad. Hawke also holds his own as his impressionable query. Although cynical, the film wisely doesn't over generalize the L.A. police force.