Training Day

 

DIRECTED BY-:
Antoine Fuqua
STARRING-:
Denzel Washington
Ethan Hawke
YEAR OF RELEASE-:
2001
PREMISE-:
A rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

THE NEGATIVES:

• It could’ve been better explained why Alonzo, with all of his corrupt higher-up friends, couldn’t just have the “Training Day” be postponed to the next day, AFTER he’s concluded his business with the Russians.

• ROGER’S HOUSE

• We're meant to believe that Alonzo wanted Jake to be part of the plan so that the shooting of Roger can be blamed on HIM — a rookie with a clean record (something that’s presumably not going to cause much suspicion during internal investigations ) — and hence cast off suspicions from Alonzo and his corrupt unit. But if that was the case, then it makes no sense for Alonzo to have Jake killed by Smiley’s gang later that evening, as that would look MORE suspicious on his part — that the rookie cop involved in a shooting earlier is somehow suspiciously dead / missing after leaving the scene with Alonzo. 

• Wouldn’t Alonzo and his guys have trouble explaining to the authorities how they had time to cut open Roger’s floor and take out the chest of money AFTER their partner “got shot” while entering? Also, how were they planning on explaining the empty chest?

• It could also have been better explained how exactly Alonzo was able to walk away with MILLIONS of dollars of cash in a duffel bag from Roger’s house in broad daylight. 

• The Mexican gang members CONVENIENTLY reveal Alonzo’s predicament with the Russians to Jake before attempting to kill him.

• LUCKILY, the men Alonzo pays to kill Jake turn out to be the cousins of the girl Jake saved from getting raped earlier.

• LUCKILY, Smiley checks Jake’s pockets for money BEFORE killing him.

• It could’ve been better explained why EXACTLY Jake wanted to arrest Alonzo after Smiley’s gang released him, since Alonzo’s trump card — the fact that a simple blood drug test would end Jake’s career — was still valid. So, did Jake want to arrest Alonzo out of revenge for trying to have him killed? Did he not care about his career anymore? Or did he believe it was necessary to arrest him because he thought Alonzo wouldn’t stop coming after his life? These questions could’ve easily been cleared through just two - three lines of dialogue.

• LUCKILY, Jake is able to find Alonzo at Sara’s place JUST BEFORE Alonzo is about to leave.

• While trying to arrest him, Jake STUPIDLY decides to get close to Alonzo, allowing Alonzo to arm himself.

• LUCKILY, Jake is able to survive not only a brutal beating from Alonzo, but also a fall on the dash of his car and getting his head smacked into glass.

• It made absolutely NO sense for Alonzo to leave Jake alive at the balcony after he had overpowered him.

• Why did Jake actually LEAVE the neighborhood when Bone asked him to? Why didn’t he just stay back there with Alonzo in his sight and call the police and an ambulance? In fact, I don’t even think he NEEDED to call them, since it is reasonable to assume they were on their way after all of the shootout mayhem transpired. So, WHERE and WHY did Jake leave? If he had just made the logical decision of staying back and calling / waiting for the police & ambulance, Alonzo wouldn’t have been able to leave the neighborhood and would’ve been arrested instead of being killed by the Russians — an ending which felt tacked on, as little to no reason is given for HOW exactly the Russians were able to track Alonzo and HOW exactly Alonzo was able to drive a car after being shot in the ass and presumably bleeding profusely.

• The “Jungle” neighborhood’s feelings towards Alonzo felt inconsistent in the climax. First, they were more than happy to let Jake pass through to kill Alonzo, then they give Alonzo a chance to arm himself with a gun to fight, but when Jake doesn’t kill him, they’re ready to kill him themselves, but then they finally let him leave the neighborhood. Their equation with Alonzo kept changing way too often and abruptly in a span of less than 10 minutes. 

THE POSITIVES:

• Both Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington give outstanding performances. Their characters, magnetic screen presence, and dynamic chemistry are undoubtedly the strongest aspects of the film.

• Barring the aforementioned flaws, the central characters were mostly well written and their distinct personalities, beliefs, motivations, and actions made logical sense while simultaneously being engaging and entertaining to watch.

• Although they weren’t exceptionally great, the cinematography, costumes, set designs and background music were all pretty good and were utilized well in the screenplay.

RATING: 5/10