Training Day 7/10

Training Day (R) 2001
Reviewer’s Tilt (7)
Action-120min
Special DVD Features worth a look-Deleted scenes

Bad movies come and go. Moviegoers simply accept them as the tax levied on the incalculable experience of a truly great film. Much worse than a bad movie, however, is a movie with unrealized potential. That is this film. Denzel Washington plays Alonzo Harris, the hardened undercover cops stopping crime using whatever means necessary. If one must commit crimes to stop crimes, then so be it; the end justifies the means. Ethan Hawke plays Jake Hoyt, up and coming golden boy, looking to land his detective shield his first day out of uniform. Conflict between new school and old school frames the opening scenes. Old school wins out, backed by unquestionable brute force and sociopathic drive. On his first day on the job Hoyt witnesses adultery, prostitution, threats, drug usage, beatings, theft, murder and conspiracy. And that is just the good guys. Comparatively, the bad guys do not seem all that bad.

Deleted scenes flesh out the story, but were obviously left on the cutting room floor to maintain the action at a fever pitch. The tension is impressive, but the tale is strong enough to have weathered some additional flesh and a more satisfying conclusion. Additionally, although Washington is a fine actor, he simply could not cross that line from functioning human to sociopathic criminal. Perhaps it was a glint in his eye or a curl of his lip, but there was never a point I would have felt uncomfortable asking him for a cigarette. Perhaps I have seen too many real bad guys. Their cool indifference to human life is not easily replicated, even by the most skilled thespian. Notwithstanding, the acting and ubiquitous ad lib are impressive overall, maintaining a high level of tension throughout the film. Just do not anticipate a rational conclusion on par with the first ninety minutes.

Format: Color, Widescreen Anamorphic, Closed captioned.
Sound: (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Extras: Director commentary, deleted scenes, alternate ending, Making of Featurette, Nelly and Pharoahe Monch music videos, trailer