Gripping, if a little contrived at times

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2002)

Training Day is the story of a rookie narcotics cop (Hawke) on the job for his first day with an unconventional veteran (Washington).... doesnt that sound like the plot of every 80's buddy cop film?
Well, take that plot premise of the buddy cop movie and shove it somewhere unattractive, embellish this action with a plethora of expletives because Training Day is nothing like you expect it to be.
Points here are mainly scored for its surprising story line, its morally perplexing outcome and the excellent performances by the two central characters.
What goes against it for the most part is the simply unbelievable premise that there are narcotics cops in the force who can behave in the way Washington's character does and live to become a veteran cop.
It's a jarring grinding ride of a movie, rather than a speeding roller-coaster, well worth the money to own it on DVD.
A definate 8/10.