Review: Training Day

The first hour of Training Day showcases a great actor strutting his stuff in a surprising film with an original premise. Denzel Washington (Det. Alonzo Harris) is amazing as a rogue LAPD narc who's turning his new rookie partner Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) to the dark side. But, inexplicably and sadly, the movie suddenly falls right off the cliff, degenerating into a dumb, improbable, almost cartoonishly violent mess. Spoilage warning: plot is discussed, but not ending.

It's great to see Denzel Washington playing a bad guy, and especially impressive to see him as messes with the mind of his eager young partner Jake. Washington is dazzling -- alternately charming, surprising, angry, powerful and savvy. He laughs, cajoles, taunts, tempts and psyches out his younger prey. He's electric, keeping the audience continuously off guard. Jake Hoyt is along for his first day's training to work as an undercover cop, a job he hopes will lead to promotions and more money for his wife and new baby. Set against the backdrop of the ugly and real-life corruption scandals still wracking the Los Angeles Police Department (already battered by years of racial tensions and accusations of brutality), he and Alonzo set out in a souped-up Monte Carlo to ride the mean streets of LA.

Hawke is also great as the eager but savvy rookie who is shocked, then horrified, as he realizes just how out-of-control, brutal and corrupt his new partner is, and how insistent Alonzo is on drawing him into the quagmire of corruption and brutality that underlie the older cop's world. Even though Hoyt knows better from the first, Alonzo is so powerful he can't quite walk away. The movie would have been so much better off if they'd just left the main story line at that, but that no longer seems possible in the looney-tunes world of big-profit studio marketing ambitions.

Training Day quickly degenerates. The "ghetto" scenes are garish, crude, nearly racist stereotypes of life in the big city. Every black or Hispanic kid under 40 is packing and shooting. The elaborate white-men police corruption conspiracies driving the plot were done much better in Chinatown and L.A. Confidential. Hoyt's answer to his increasingly nightmarish predicament is as unsatisfying as it is puzzling and unclear. And a silly plot twist featuring a Russian mafia with enough firepower to take ot the Taliban is inane. I'd highly recommend seeing this movie to anyone who wants to see a great actor strut his stuff for a good hour. Mid-way through, though, you might want to do yourself a favor, finish your popcorn and just go home.

Comments

Read a real review of the movie on Salon

[YouAreFatMan]

If you want to read a real movie review, Salon has a well done review of "Training Day" that actually discusses the merits of the film and will be much more useful in deciding whether you want to see the movie or not. Jon's reviews always sound like he didn't see the movie, but had someone else tell him the plot.

Jon, you kant recommend half a movie.

[motherhead]

Please Jon, you are suppost to be a real grown up movie reviewer guy...

I'd highly recommend seeing this movie to anyone who wants to see a great actor strut his stuff for a good hour. Mid-way through, though, you might want to do yourself a favor, finish your popcorn and just go home.

i do not know anyone that would want to spend $10.00 per ticket and subject themselves to half a movie, knowing full well they have been promised a disappointing second half/ending.

I authorize you to use the phrase: "wait for it on cable"... and enjoy Denzel's acting while you do something productive.

I appreciate the heads up but you should express yourself when you've been robbed.

Tweaking Movies

[Alien54]

What we seem to have here is the result of constantly wanting to add just one more thing to a script.

Of course we have seen this in other areas, such as coding.

Think of it as the movie equivalent of Feature Creep. Like all things, sometime you get away with it, and sometimes you don't. Alot depends on your taste.

But it sounds like the original idea was in the first hour of the flick and the rest was added in the infamous studio writing process.

instead of a "Katz Filter"

[garcia]

we should have a "everyone ranting about how horrible he is" filter.

I am glad that you people don't care to listen to his poor writing style and his crap reviews but I certainly would rather hear his crap than yours. Please try and refrain from it.

As far as that comment goes, why not try and give us a decent review yourselves. That would be a billion times more beneficial than whining when you can just block his stories.

The movie was definitly crappy. It was NOT worth the 5.25 I paid for it, and I don't recommend it to anyone.

I went to see Ratdog last night in Toledo. That was a smokin' show. If any of you audiophiles out there have a copy of it it would be much appreciated ;)

Bobby Weir is getting older (bald spot) but he looks like he is in decent shape for his age. The Sax player is a fucking pain in the ass that needs to understand that he is NOT the lead in the band. Sax solos might be cool for Clinton 10 years ago but they aren't cool every 20s of a song.

I miss the Dead and Ratdog's show last night was like seeing my last shows all over again. They played a smoking Corrina, One More Saturday Night, and my personal favorite... the rocking US Blues.

Have a good day everyone :) Lay off Katz and go see Bobby :)