Unlikable Character+Denzel = Good Film

Rating: Null/10 (3 June 2002)

Denzel did what few actors can do. Take a thoroughly corrupt, unlikable character, give it dimension and use it to help deliver a very good film. He deserved the Oscar, no one can deny that.
The seminal scene for me was near the end when Denzel, outnumbered and outgunned, still holds his facade together with the brothers in the hood like he's still the one in control - very believable.
Though, credit has to be given to the overlooked part of the equation, Ethan Hawke who anchors the film by allowing us to identify with someone - and that's really the icing on what might otherwise be an average bad cop story.
Kudos to the writer for writing an straight-forward, character driven story (though somewhat slow at times) and to Antoine Fuqua who really delivers as a director this time (as opposed to the Replacement Killers which he fell flat action and character wise).
Worth repeated viewings if you have the stomach for corruption or if you want to experience Denzel's darker side.
3/4 stars (***/****)