Dirty cop films are usually a dime a dozen. If you look on TV there’s usually a show in every network that deals with the subject matter. Most of them aren’t bad and are there just to help you pass the time; the same with film. Kinda like boxing movies. We get one every year it seems. Today’s fbf goes to one: Training Day.
Now, Training Day has got to be one of the best to tackle said genre. A lot of what makes it the best has to go to everyone involved from behind the scenes to what’s in front of the camera. You’ve got Denzel Washington (who even won an Academy Award, if that holds any weight with you, for this movie) and Ethan Hawke as the two leads. You’ve also got a Scott Glenn as a “friend” to Denzel’s Alonzo and the guy who can play anyone, Cliff Curtis as Smiley – the bad ass cholo and an associate of Alonzo’s. The movie was written by David Ayer, directed by Antoine Fuqua and filmed in some of the worst parts of LA. This movie wasn’t made to fuck around. It was made to make an impact — and it did.
Denzel Washington as Alonzo
From the first moment Denzel is on screen you can tell he’s the main man. Dressed in all black and demanding not to be bothered while reading his newspaper; the guy just feels intimidating without even looking up. Ethan Hawke gets the less showy role as a rookie detective but he does well with it. He’s not in this for the thrills, he’s in this to support his family and he’s also getting his eyes opened to the atrocities Alonzo does to get the job done.
The two ride around in Alonzo’s “office” while he shows Jake (Hawke) the city as he’s never seen it before. While he’s doing that he puts a gun to Jake’s head and makes him smoke PCP then gives him beer to settle his high. Jake doesn’t want to blow his promotion so he obliges, but it’s also easy to see why he does. Alonzo can talk anyone into being under his spell, that’s how manipulative and charismatic he can be. In the end, almost everyone he’s had under him sees through the bullshit and Alonzo gets his.
Ethan Hawke as Hoyt.
With director Antoine Fuqua, you can tell that this is the movie he has been trying to make. His two previous efforts, The Replacement Killers and Bait, weren’t met with the same praise as Training Day but if you look closer at those two movies you can spot the artist trying to come out. David Ayer, who grew up in the streets of East LA was also trying to make a name for himself, having written a lot of the first Fast and the Furious and U-571 found his niche for these type of stories. Even Fast and the Furious had that same Alonzo/Jake type of relationship with Dom and Brian. Ayer has gone on to become a director himself with Harsh Times (watch it) Street Kings (badass movie too), End of Watch (one of the best), Fury (amazing WWII movie) and Suicide Squad (be quiet, that was good).
So, pull up a chair, pop in Training Day judge for yourself and see if King Kong ain’t got shit on this movie.
Catch Mando on Twitter at @manbat33 when he’s not co-hosting the @TalentedSlacker podcast!