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Training Day is easily the most entertaining and fascinating movie regarding police corruption that I've seen. Rappers have been screaming about dodgy law enforcement dealings for years in their songs, but none will tarnish the reputation of the LAPD as much as this entry within the mainstream movie world (if that is at all possible, of course).

Training Day attempts to shake up the morals of what is right and wrong. Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is an ambitious L.A. cop who wants to make detective; he is given a day on the job with Alonzo Harris, a thirteen-year narcotics officer who is sceptical about his duty in the streets and manipulative of people who cross him. The two make an interesting pairing: Hoyt is a by-the-book academy cop who sharply contrasts Alonzo, a senior detective who breaks the law at every opportunity. Hoyt becomes confused, but sees some logic in Alonzo's methods for obtaining "street justice" and gradually begins to adapt.

The whole of Training Day feels gritty and authentic, with the dividing line between justice and duty being significantly blurred. Antoine Fuqua deliberately keeps things moving at a relentless pace throughout, while David Ayer's script has plenty of street slang that wouldn't sound out of place in a Los Angeles ghetto. The fearless performances of the actors involved, also, live up to the depths of its gritty realism, making the film incredibly engrossing viewing.

Washington, particularly, is remarkable as he not only outlines the brooding terror of the corrupt side of the law, but does so convincingly and very intelligently that we begin to admire the influence of his black anti-hero character (he picked up an Oscar for this performance). Hawke is also a remarkable young actor and holds his own against Washington throughout; he is the honourable guy that we can understand and sympathize with when he's pushed to the edge by Alonzo's criminal intelligence.

Training Day's ending may be cheap and melodramatic, preventing what otherwise would've been a very unique tale of police corruption, but there is still a real sense of danger that Fuqua has created to keep us on the edge of our seats for the majority of the film. Check, for example, the scene where Hoyt has been left behind in the company of gang members and attempts to escape -- just terrifying!

(C) Andy Carrington, 2008.