Training Day (2001)

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Writer: David Ayer

Stars: Ethan Hawke, Denzel Washington, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Harris Yulin, Raymond J. Barry

A rookie narcotics officer (Ethan Hawke) is paired with a street veteran (Denzel Washington) for training and learns just how dirty the good guys really are.

 

Always intense and entertaining, the film falters toward the end.

 

You can see it coming with the introduction of a titanically contrived coincidence that saves the life of a main character.

 

However, once my eyes stopped rolling, I have to admit that I was sucked right into the story again. 

That is in no small part due to the efforts of Washington and Hawke, who both do outstanding work here.

 

Washington has the flashier role, and he kills it, but Hawke is also great in the more understated part of a man who is simultaneously frightened, angry, humiliated, and disillusioned.