Training Day

Four stars. Recommended.

Intense thriller about police corruption in Los Angeles. Fresh-faced cop Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) gets the chance to "try out" for an elite undercover narcotics unit, run by Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). The film covers this one "training day" from dawn to midnight. Hour by hour, Alonzo grinds away at Jake's belief in decency and honest police work. He drags Jake headlong into his world of compromise, kickbacks, and outright brutality, and offers him a golden career path, if only he is willing to accept that these shades of dark grey are a necessary means to an end. Which way will he jump? Washington is amazing as Alonzo, and Hawke matches him in every scene. Fascinating to watch.