No matter how many times I watch “Training Day,” it remains one of my favorite crime thrillers of all time. It’s not only a stunning and mesmerizing crime film, but one of Denzel Washington’s most brilliant performances. In a career filled with roles where he portrayed mostly nice guys, his performance as Alonzo Harris is a departure that he fits in to beautifully. Alonzo Harris has to be one of the conniving and vindictive movie villains of all time. He’s a cop that’s not only been corrupted by the system but has unapologetically embraced his role as a slimy bastard who twists the system for his benefit.
“Training Day” is set on a single day where veteran officer Alonzo Harris escorts rookie Jake Hoyt on his first day with the LAPD’s tough inner-city narcotics unit. As Jake views the inner city, and how far the increasingly violent and morally ambiguous Alonzo is willing to go to get what he wants in a land of corruption, he has to figure out where to draw a line, and who the bad guys really are. So much about “Training Day” begins as a deceptively simple tale about police corruption and unfolds in to a surprisingly complex tale about karma and fate.
Director Fuqua follows the pair of officers through a day of patrols, and the day holds immensely crucial importance in how their lives ultimately unfold in the finale. Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington are dynamite in their respective performances, portraying two sides of the moral coin. Washington is fantastic as the often charismatic Alonzo Harris who does everything he can to preserve his own well being. His take on this densely layered villain makes him one of the more fascinating antagonists for a crime film in contemporary cinema.
All the while Hawke is great as the more stoic Jake, a newcomer in the police field who still has a belief in the justice system. The climax is left purposely ambiguous as Jake’s confidence in morality is left shaken, especially as he views the worst he can become in Alonzo. “Training Day” is briskly directed, and wonderfully paced, going through a grudging series of trials and obstacles that culminate in to an explosive stand down. Director Antoine Fuqua’s Oscar nominated crime thriller is a bonafide masterpiece of its genre, and has yet to show its age, twenty years after its release.
Featured in this new 4K release is a single audio commentary by Director Antoine Fuqua who heaps praise on stars Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington. The Blu-Ray includes extras from previous releases, including the aforementioned audio commentary, and two music videos. There’s “#1” from Nelly, and “Got You” from Pharoahe Monch. There’s also a slew of deleted scenes clocking in at over twelve minutes. There’s the vintage fifteen minutes “Training Day: Crossing the Line” featurette exploring the making of the film, and finally an alternate ending that slightly shift the tone of Alonzo’s fate. Finally, there’s the original theatrical trailer for “Training Day.”