Training Day
Review by By Clint Morris
 We
all have our bad days. Maybe it was the fact that you were
yelled at by your superior, or maybe you questioned the career
you've found yourself in, or maybe you've found yourself in
a 'no win' situation.
LAPD Detective, Zack Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is about to experience
all of that; and that's before lunchtime.
In Antoine Faqua's "Training Day", both Ethan Hawke
and Denzel Washington play against type, playing two of the
grittiest characters of their long careers.
Hawke is the wet around the ears new cop on the block (this
is Hawke's first action movie), whilst infamous 'good guy'
actor Denzel Washington turns the tables on his cynics by
playing the film's more questionable character, the sinister
larger-than-life, Sgt Alonzo Harris, a man who has rewritten
the law book to suit himself.
Hoyt is the newbie about to experience a fraternity-hazing-like
first day on the job, working with maverick Narcotics officer,
Harris. Obviously feeling threatened, Hoyt is tricked into
smoking laced pot, downing scotch, babysitting whilst his
partner gets a bit of bootie in the next room, and even taking
the rap for a shotgun blast that reads like a straight-up
case of murder. Set over the course of one day, the film explores
the relationship between the two, which ultimately leads to
Hoyt's conclusion that his partner is a bad egg, and he's
going to use him up and spit him out just like one of his
daily doormats.
We have seen it all before, the young stooge turning the
tables on his perceivably unstoppable superior, but to such
skillful degree, no. Ethan Hawke looks the part and acts the
part of the wide-eyed Hoyt; it's obvious he is having a great
time in a movie that requires him to hide, jump, shoot and
punch, something he hasn't done before. At the same time,
he also manages to give a good performance, totally immersing
himself in the character he's playing.
Best of all is Denzel Washington. Washington is revelling
in his role as the bad guy. He, like the audiences who watch
his movies, are so sick and tired of seeing Washington playing
the same 'hero' type character he has played over the years
- you know Crimson Tide, Virtuosity, The Bone Collector, Malcom
X, Devil in a Blue Dress - we know Washington can play the
good guy, we haven't seen him play the bad guy. And as Evil,
he rocks.
He is the ultimate bad guy. He looks the part of a shady
Cop. Those gold chains, that shadowy outfit, the endless quips
that come from his mouth; and the overbearing attitude he
brings out in Harris. "Training Day" maybe over
the top in parts, but rightly so, because this movie is all
about action and giving the audience someone to root for;
and thankfully, for once it ain't Washington. One of this
year's big surprise packages.
4 out of 5
Training Day
Australian release: Now Showing across Australia
Director: Antoine Faqua.
Website: Click
here
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