Washington Training in Corruption.

Rating: 6/10 (14 September 2015)

Training Day (2001): Dir: Antoine Faqua / Cast: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Bergenger, Harris Yulin: Action thriller about the faults in the justice system. Ethan Hawke prepares for his first day of training on the narcotics team with a meeting with Denzel Washington who plays by his own rules. He begins by forcing Hawke to smoke pot then Washington proceeds to dish out his own brand of justice on the guilty. Hawke can sense trouble as corrupt law caves in leading to an extremely violent climax. Director Antoine Faqua previously made Bait, which contained similar themes. It observes corrupt justice and plays out many scenes with uncertainty. Flawless performance by Washington who is of the law at first appearance before true nature emerges. This is a very different performance from him and that is what render this film viewable above the violence. What is interesting is his downfall right after he yells, "I am the police. King Kong ain't got nothing on me!" Hawke is superb as a cop wanting to do right but forced to comply with wrong. He will be placed in a difficult position in the third act. Unfortunately Scott Glenn and Tom Berenger appear in flat roles leaving only the two leads to carry the film. Average in terms of production, it plays like a cop drama but states a strong case regarding bad company corrupting good character. Score: 6 / 10