Training Day

****
UK Release Date: February 1st 2002

On his first day on the job as a Los Angeles narcotics officer, a rookie cop goes on a 24-hour training course with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears.

Director: Antoine Fuqua (Bait)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke

Training Day defies the cop-buddy element by distancing rookie Jake Hoyt (Hawke) and narcotics veteran Alonzo Harris (Washington) from each other. Their partnership is no less enthralling, in fact, it's deeply engaging, with Ethan Hawke effortlessly manipulated and constantly pressurised by Washington and his bad ways, which goes to question, has he gone rogue or is he really showing Jake what it's like on the streets? 

There's little time to think it over; within minutes Hoyt has taken hallucinogenics, had a gun pointed to his head and roughed up a couple of the homeless. This is just a taster compared to what's to come for the rookie cop. The plot builds at a decent pace with plenty of action and suspense, neither of which take the focus off of the lead men.

Hoyt teeters on the edges of right and wrong. The good cop in him wants to play by the rules, but the devil on his shoulder (that being Harris) makes him far more interesting. As the day pans out, Hoyt bites off more than he could chew. 

Washington comfortably steals the show. Impeccable and mesmerising acting comes naturally to him. It's incredibly hard to dislike Harris. He oozes a charm and a cunning attitude that most villains and anti-heroes lack. 

Regardless of what happens to either character, Training Day is an explosive ride, and never stops for the climatic finale. Be aware, Training Day is not a film to watch if you're thinking of going on holiday to Los Angeles. Bad stuff happens, and even the good guys can be twisted easily.