Training Day Review

Rating: Null/10 (5 May 2004)

'One of the best thrillers from Hollywood in many a year'. A comment from the Daily Express which is stated on the back of the Training Day DVD box. This comment is not far from the truth. This 2001 thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua and staring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, provides a fast paced, action packed, twist occurring experience. Jack Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is a (white) rookie LA cop who is on his first day of training to become a narcotics officer. He is teemed up with veteran detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) whose task is to put Jack through tests which will either make or break him. Jack begins to get suspicious about Alonzo's attitude towards crime and it soon becomes clear that Alonzo is in fact a rogue cop. Once jack is confident that this in fact, is the case, he goes about standing up to Alonzo and tries to counter his misdealing. Washington pulls off the dodgy underground cop brilliantly so much so that he was awarded an academy award for best actor in 2001. His acting in a way has the same effect on the audience as it does on Jack, you can't help trusting him when you really know you shouldn't. His performance really does suck the audience in. Hawke plays the naïve rookie white boy cop in a way that compliments with Washington. You cant help but feel sorry for Jake who has been put in the middle of this street gang warfare. The totally different styles and attitudes of the two characters help to create a good versus evil tone to the film. On more than a few occasions, we are treated to fast moving scenes of gunfire and general violence which helps push the story along with great ease. There is never really a dull moment in the film and the gradual increase of suspense helps keep audience attention. In my opinion this would have to be one of the best films I have seen. The fact that Washington's character is so unpredictable, means that you are always trying to suss him out, which then has the effect of holding your attention and almost includes you in the storyline. The plot is not straight forward either. We are treated to a twist in the story which makes us re-evaluate the film. It makes you want to watch the film again so as to fully understand the story. I think that any film that makes the viewer want to see it again is a success in its own right. If you are wanting a straight forward, easy watching film, then Training Day is not for you. If however, you want a fast paced, twisting action movie, this is a must watch. Another Quote taken from the DVD box sums this film up: Training Day is a gritty, tough and realistic cop thriller, which will have you gripped from start to finish.