An excellent movie!

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2002)

TRAINING DAY is a gritty, well directed, and (very) well acted look at the mean streets of Los Angeles.
Denzel Washington (in his Oscar-winning performance) gives one of the finest performances of the year as corrupt narcotics detective, Alonzo Harris. Washington's performance is free, charismatic, scary, and loose. Also (unlike Russell Crowe in A BEAUTIFUL MIND), Washington never breaks character. His interpretation of a very evil man is flawless.He practically pops with theatrical sizzle.
Ethan Hawke is just as good as naive rookie, Jake Hoyt. Throughout the film, we can actually see Hoyt come into his own and become a leader (as opposed to a beginner). In my opinion, Hawke should have also won the Oscar.

This is an unflinching look at one of the worst, most dangerous places in America.