Training Day Review
by Ishmael Williams
Let's get right down to it - I did like this one.
Training Day is the tale of a rookie police officer's first day with a Los
Angeles Narcotics police investigator. Naturally, it is a tale of a clash
in ideologies and methodologies.
Fresh off a beat, Ethan Hawke plays a young, naive and idealistic cop who
would do anything to make detective. He seeks the glamor and prestige that
comes with such a promotion, and to get there he puts in for an assignment
to a narcotics squad. Denzel Washington plays the leader of that squad,
who takes the young officer for a day of training, to see if he can cut it
and become a member of his "elite" unit. Together they cruise the streets
of some of L. A.'s toughest neighborhoods, Washington's character Alonzo
bent on taking the measure of Hawke's character, Jake.
In his turn, Jake will do anything to work the unit and make
detective. Alonzo confesses to seeing some of himself in Jake when he
himself was younger and just as eager. Still, he tests and tests Jake,
leading almost to Jake's breaking point.
Ethan Hawke's portrayal is low keyed, and comes across very open eyed,
unskilled and earnest. Denzel Washington, by contrast, is brash, arrogant
and contemptuous, yet he does so with a gleam in his eye and a commitment
to his cause that almost makes him endearing. I found myself really liking
the character of Alonzo, but at the same time, not sure I should.
The tale twists, of course, yet i didn't find many of the turns
telegraphed, save two. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the film's
drama. It is an excellent portrayal of two differing personalities who,
somehow I felt, could actually be alike in the end, if fate were kind. But
make no mistake, the tale is dark and jarring, and I left feeling
uncomfortable. I think that was because I did like Alonzo as much as I
did, despite the arrogance and contempt.
I give this film 4 and half beakers - subtracting one half beaker for one
scene towards the end that in retrospect, I must admit went a little longer
than perhaps it should. It is still an excellent viewing.
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Training Day
Four and a Half
Beakers
(out of five)
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Ishmael I. Williams is a fan of both movies and television, and
doesn't get to see as much as he'd like in any given year. Still, what he
does get to see he enjoys writing about, and hope people will stop by from
time to time to see what he has to say. He also thinks he's going to be a
pretty good foil for Tim Wick, fellow board member and with whom he often
disagrees on a film (ask Tim and Ish about Wild Wild West sometime).
He previously wrote about
Tomb Raider
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