Training Day (2001)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Antoine Fuqua

Writer (WGA):

David Ayer (written by)

Release Date:

5 October 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

You wanna go home or jail?

Plot:

On his first day on the job as a narcotics officer, a rookie cop works with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears as.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Rookie | Detective | Drug Dealer | Police

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 13 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 11	10:30 PM	BET
Sun. July 12	8:00 PM	BET

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Alonzo
Ethan Hawke	...	Jake
Scott Glenn	...	Roger
Tom Berenger	...	Stan Gursky
Harris Yulin	...	Doug Rosselli
Raymond J. Barry	...	Lou Jacobs
Cliff Curtis	...	Smiley
Dr. Dre	...	Paul
Snoop Dogg	...	Blue
Macy Gray	...	Sandman's Wife
Charlotte Ayanna	...	Lisa
Eva Mendes	...	Sara (as Eva Mendez)
Nick Chinlund	...	Tim
Jaime Gomez	...	Mark (as Jaime P. Gomez)
Raymond Cruz	...	Sniper

MPAA:

Rated R for brutal violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief nudity.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English | Russian | Spanish | Mandarin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Denmark:15 | USA:R (certificate #38489) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

David Ayer wrote the first draft in 1995, way before the Rampart Scandal made headlines in 1998. In the first draft, Alonzo was a Latino officer in charge of drug enforcement in the gang infested area of Pico-Union within the Rampart Division. He was a loner and didn't have any partner because of his reputation as a corrupt and racist cop. But the basics elements of the character were there: he wears expensive jewelry and drives a 1979 Monte Carlo model.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final scene when Jake pulls into the driveway, a car is visible through his rear window. As he gets out, the other car's door opens and someone begins to exit, yet when Jake is outside no more of this person is seen. This scene was trimmed to remove a confrontation between Jake and the "Three Wise Men" seen earlier in the movie. However, the scene was not re-shot leaving the "menacing" moment of a mysterious person getting out of a car unexplained.

Quotes:

Alonzo Harris: Its not like I was pointing a gun at your head.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Out of Time: Crime Scene (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Last Resort

First day on a new job, can be stressful...

Enter Ethan Hawke's character, officer Jake Hoyt. With the allure of a new job, a transfer to the division that he has been working hard to reach. He is at the top of his game.

The Call, from the department head, Alonzo Harris, congratulating him on his promotion, sort of. Denzel Washington, takes on a character, like none other that he has had so far. Sounds like a big business wall street type scenario aye? Not even close, down of skid-row street maybe. This is a story set in Los Angeles, that even when it's daylight, this is the darkest 'beat' in the whole department's city.

From the moment that the meet was set at the coffee shop, something is just, slightly skewed. There seems an absence of real concern for Jake's situation and a lot more mechanical rogue cop, trainer 'Doggin' going on here. Alonzo is dangerous, because he doesn't care, anymore. His soul has departed, and it's simply a matter of time before, he is too. As they departed from the coffee shop, by way of a black Monte Carlo. The director, Antoine Fuqua wanted to show a more real and brutal side of the crime busting business. The place where lines are so blurred...if they even exist anymore. Denzel Washington, should be applauded for the part that he became ' wholly ' involved in. Scary in some ways, it appeared as if there was no acting, just this over the edge ' Narc ' who you just gotta watch like a hawk!

Ethan, was the ' newbie ' but a very likable, "Just wanting to do the right thing" type of guy. Some what confused at times about the way in which Harris attended to his profession. Curious about why he would do what he would do. Alonzo, always explaining away the point to a nervous rookie, who in the back of his mind just knew, that there is something here, that won't let him rest until he does the right thing. It almost costs him his life, in the end, Hoyt is a master in his career field...a true Wolf, amongst the dogs. It seemed as though, Hoyt had an awakening. He had to go down into that alley-way because his 'gut' wouldn't let it alone. And in the end, this is what saved his very existence, now that is reasoning with razor sharpness. Plus he needed to get home to that hot wife of his....

The only reason that I didn't give this a ten out, was the ending. Something went a little wrong for Alonzo. This seemed like a Hollywood ending. The studio should have left it alone.

Recommended, but not for those with weaker film story constitutions. (*****)