Loosely inspired by real events, Training Day follows the remarkable journey of veteran LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), who trains rookie police officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke). When Hoyt discovers Harrisโs corruption, he walks a careful blue line between pleasing Harris and maintaining his integrity.
Drenched with sharp dialogue, exhilarating action, strong direction (from Antoine Fuqua), and an incredibly captivating performance, Training Day is an adrenalizing ride. The script is sharp and crisp, enticing audiences with every line. The direction is masterful and engaging from the opening scene to the rolling credits. But the best of part of the movie, by far, is the gorgeous Denzel Washingtonโs breathtaking portrayal of Detective Alonzo Harris. His sexiness, energy, charisma, and intensity, are outstanding. As I was watching, I honestly forgot that he was an actor, I thought he was a cop. He is so hot, I almost found myself rooting for him at times. His performance was stunningly stellar, and he wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar.
While Ethan Hawkeโs character was central to the movie, I was disappointed in his performance. He lacked the charisma and cinematic mastery that Denzel Washington had/has, and he didnโt have very strong chemistry with Washington. It was obvious that he was acting. However, the scenes where he interacted with the kids were solid. And in Hawkeโs defense, Denzel Washington could probably outperform just about anybody.
My criticisms of the movie would be the extreme violence (especially towards the end), the unrealistic elements, and the lack of attention on the charactersโ personal lives. Although the violence was a necessary component of the film, it got excessive and extreme, especially in the end. While some of the action scenes were exciting, they were also unrealistic, almost to the point of becoming a distraction. Additionally, I would have liked to have seen a little more emphasis on the charactersโ personal lives and backgrounds, rather than just the action. However, these things did not ruin the movie for me at all. They are just personal observations that I made.
Overall, Training Day is a strong, exciting, and engaging crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll. I would recommend this movie to any fans of Denzel Washington, crime thrillers, and police dramas.
Thank you for reading my review! God bless you, and stay safe. (And for goodness sakes, please donโt break the law.)