Jake(Hawke, innocent yet with some edge) has been on the force for over a year and a half now. He wants to make detective, and that means joining Narcotics. For his titular training day he must impress Alonzo(Washington, simultaneously threatening and charming). He will soon find that this is a cop who crosses the line frequently. Exactly how far is he willing to go?

The acting by both leads is amazing. Honestly, for everyone in this. Denzel steals the show, but Ethan still really makes a mark. This is immensely gritty, with many honest looks at what happens in the bad neighborhoods of LA, as told by a screenwriter and director who actually lived there. The authenticity is a huge part of why this is so compelling. With a few exceptions, you really feel like this could happen(there are things that are not very credible. Others have already detailed them, I don't really have anything to add),and it really provokes a discussion of police brutality. Despite an episodic nature, every scene has a distinct purpose in the overall narrative, although for a number of them, you won't realise what it is until later.

This contains a lot of strong language, some brutal violence, and a little nudity. I recommend it to everyone who can stomach the contents. 8/10

I wouldn't say that this was a great film but it does have a great performance from Denzel Washington in it, one of his very best, and he's done a lot of good ones. The story, about a rookie struggling on the mean streets, takes place over the course of a day and is absolutely dominated by Washington's larger than life character. Nothing much happens for the first hour, although the viewer is entranced by Washington, while the second half offers a neat spin on the revenge plot. An extra star here for Washington alone.

Jake (Ethan Hawke) is a cop who is excited because he's just been transferred from duty in a black & white to the Narcotics Division. This means undercover work...and it means a new partner. Alonzo (Denzel Washington) is a very street-wise cop who cuts a lot of corners. And, through the course of the movie, he also seems to have gone native. In other words, he is willing to break laws, ignore many lawbreakers, and perhaps worse. What is going to happen to Jake on his first training day? And, how is he going to adapt to his apparently amoral new partner?

So is this film any good? Yes...and both leads were nominated for Oscars for the film...and Washington won. However, "Training Day" is NOT for everyone. The film is violent, tough and not for the easily offended. It's also not a film to show your mother or kids. Just understand what you're getting into when you watch this gritty movie.