Common Sense Media Review
Great performances, but for adults only.
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Training Day
What's the Story?
TRAINING DAY stars Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris, head of an elite unit of LAPD narcotics officers. Rookie Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) has just one day to prove himself to Alonzo. Jake is smart, tough, and very motivated – he wants to make detective, and this is his best opportunity. But Alonzo tells Jake that his ideas are all wrong, and that the streets and the police are very different from what he has been taught. Jake climbs into Alonzo's huge black Monte Carlo and before he knows it, he is smoking marijuana laced with PCP and watching Alonzo rough up attempted rapists and let them go. Alonzo is a master of manipulation, using a mix of trash talk, bullying, and charm to persuade Jake to violate every principle he has. At first, Jake is so eager to be accepted that he accepts Alonzo's view that only a wolf can catch another wolf. But when it appears that Alonzo thinks of Jake not as fellow predator but as prey, Jake decides that only one of them can survive.
Is It Any Good?
Denzel Washington has a coiled, controlled energy that puts tremendous power behind his coolness and grace, which adds complexity and ambiguity to his portrayal of heroes. Here that cougar-like quality adds a lot of sizzle to his portrayal of a bad guy, a rogue cop who has crossed the line so many times that he doesn't even see it any more.
Washington is dazzling in his Oscar-winning performance as Alonzo. He lets us catch a glimpse of Alonzo's desperation as he interacts with a charming drug dealer with a taste for expensive drinks (Scott Glenn), three "wise men" who run the department, the mother of his child, and the men of his unit. With each encounter, he shows us a different approach. Hawke is just fair as the white-bread rookie, but Glenn and singers Macy Gray, Snoop Dog, and Dr. Dre make the most of small roles. The director, Antoine Fuqua, shows his music video roots with a style that is often flashy but not always in aid of the story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way that seemingly little exceptions to ethical rules end up creating very serious problems. When do the ends justify the means? This may be especially meaningful in light of the current debate about how to respond to terrorism.
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 5, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : June 1, 2004
- Cast : Denzel Washington , Ethan Hawke , Scott Glenn
- Director : Antoine Fuqua
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 122 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : extreme violence, language, drug use, and nudity
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 15, 2025
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