Training Day
Denzel Washington certainly confirms his status as one of the most powerful actors of our time as Alonzo Harris, corrupt narcotics cop. The story develops slowly, and director Antoine Fuqua slowly peels away the layers of the character as he goes from being a hardass street cop to a murdering thief and finally a power-mad megalomaniac. Ethan Hawke matches up well with him as the rookie on his first day learning the ins and outs of the streets. The two form a powerful combo as Hawke eventually learns to detest the man who is training him and ultimately, the system that allows him to get away with it. The supporting cast is fairly good also, with the rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg doing adequate work with limited screen time, Nick Chinlund and Peter Greene creepy as hell as Alonzo’s team members, Scott Glenn amicable as the long time friend of Alonzo’s who also happens to be a dealer, Tom Berenger, Raymond J. Barry and Harris Yulin making good impressions with their one-scene appearance as the “three wise men” (Yulin’s peanut-butter story is hilarious), Cliff Curtis brings some dignity as the leader of a trio of Mexicans who menace Hawke (even though the other two play it a bit over the top), and Eva Mendes looking hot as hell and getting naked to boot as an old flame of Alonzo’s. At times the story does stretch credibility with showing just how much Alonzo is able to get away with (the intersection pipe-smoking scene being the prime example), and plausibility takes a holiday during the last twenty minutes, but Denzel’s final monologue is a thing of beauty, showing the bitter desperation of a man who knows his time has run out. In short, a gritty cop movie elevated to classic status by the performances of its two leads…
9/10