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 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough.
Training Day (MA)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
 Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua on the set of Training Day.
Denzel Washington plays well against type in this gritty police drama set on the streets of LA. He's LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris, head of an undercover narcotics squad. His latest recruit is idealist Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) - 19 months on the force, with a wife and baby daughter. Jake has signed up with the narcotics force to fast-track his career.
Little does he know it but his first day on the job will have him wishing he'd become a fireman instead. Before morning tea break he's been made to smoke laced marijuana at gun point and been beaten up by two thugs who were attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl. And those were the high points! (And you thought you were having a bad day!)
Washington has built his career playing decent, likeable characters who are usually struggling against the odds. He's a great actor and to see him play the bad guy is a real treat, especially when he gets to chew up the scenery playing a maniac who is obviously delusional. (Amazing how much medical knowledge you can pick up from watching TV...)
Surely you didn't expect something subtle and understated. After all Training Day is penned by David Ayer, the writer of U-571 and The Fast and the Furious. It's directed by Antoine Fuqua of The Replacement Killer, so a word of warning.. although only two people actually get killed during the entire course of the film, this is a very violent movie. As Alonzo keeps pointing out to the increasingly horrified Jake, it is all about 'street justice'. It's a credit to Ethan Hawke's talent that his own performance is utterly convincing and nicely underplayed, making the perfect counter for Denzel's dramatic portrayal.
I wasn't really looking forward to Training Day. I am not a huge fan of 'homeboy' movies (although watching them trying to run in those pants is always good for a laugh), but thankfully this movie has a lot more to offer than simply a cast of black rappers-turned-actors, playing gang members. Not that 'Day' hasn't got it's fair share of singers putting in some fine performances, Keep your eyes peeled for Snoop Doggy Dogg, Macy Gray and Dr Dre.
Training Day goes for the throat and doesn't let go. It had me on the edge of my seat, chewing at my fingernails. Don't expect any joy ride, this is one intense trip.
Rating: 4 ½ stars
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