The 80’s and 90’s saw a seemingly endless release of buddy cop films. The approach was almost always formulaic. One officer is by the books and straight laced, and the other one is a renegade with more property damage than arrests. However, despite their differences, both officers wind up overcoming whatever problem that was thrown their way, and learning the importance of utilizing teamwork rather than working alone. In 2001, Antoine Fuqua directed a film written by David Ayer that would take that formula, turn it inside out, and gut it in a title called Training Day. This crime thriller features Ethan Hawk as a day one rookie who’s paired up with a seasoned detective, played by Denzel Washington. This project would solidify the work relationship between Denzel and Fuqua, paving the way for The Equalizer action franchise in later years.
Denzel Washington brings an intimidating presence to the screen as Alonzo, from the very moment Ethan Hawk’s character, Jake, meets up with him. He’s crass and off-putting, with a charm about him that makes him seem as though his true nature is nothing more than him joking. It creates an uneasiness the audience shares with the rookie as he goes about his first day with the gruff street detective who told him to meet up with him instead of going to roll call. Wanting to impress his higher ups, Jake wastes no time questioning why his schedule was changed and throws himself into a long ride along with Alonzo, who tests him every step of the way.
The story develops in a way that allows the viewer to experience Training Day as Jake does. There’s no monologue about a big bad villain, or immediate mission at hand. To Jake, Alonzo is simply taking him along for a normal “day at the office”. While Jake seems timid, eager to prove himself, and genuinely good natured, Alonzo’s moral integrity is fluid at best. For every good bit of advice Jake’s given, such as not wearing his wedding ring while working, he’s conned by Alonzo into doing unjust things in the name of the job itself. Whether it’s casually drinking during the ride along, or smoking cannabis seized from college students, Alonzo swears that it’s all for survival in the world of narcotics where it’s best to fit in rather than to stand out. Jake is slowly disenchanted by the job the longer he follows Alonzo’s lead. It doesn’t take long for Jake to look at Alonzo as less of a partner, and more of a questionable anomaly.
Viewers can expect to see morally ambiguous situation after situation unfold as Jake finds himself breaking the rules of engagement to do some good, and placing himself in danger by refusing to act against his own code of conduct. By the time the film’s conflict comes into full swing, neither Jake nor Alonzo are free from wrong doing. However, when uncrossable lines are drawn in the sand, definitive right has to clash against unwavering wrong to preserve a natural balance within the justice system itself.
Training Day brings the story to a ground level, with cinematography that keeps your attention and a soundtrack that compliments the tone of each and every scene. The film keeps bringing familiar faces to the forefront, which kept me saying, “Oh yeah! They’re in this!” Whether it was Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, or Dr. Dre himself, there’s no shortage of celebrity appearances. None of which come off as cheap or distracting. Even Breaking Bad fans can look forward to seeing Raymond Cruz bringing his signature “Tuco Salamanca” energy to one of the movies’ most tense moments. No actor is wasted, and they all expand the movie’s lore beautifully.
The tension Antoine Fuqua weaves into the fabric of Training Day’s DNA hasn’t quite been captured since, and has very little it can be compared to when it comes to crime dramas. Ethan Hawk is the ideal hero who overcomes the odds, and Denzel Washington brings Alonzo to life in a career defining performance that has lingered in the social consciousness since the film dropped in 2001. The movie exists in a seemingly timeless state, with the story being very applicable over twenty years after its release. Which is why HBO MAX made a big deal out of it when it finally added it to its catalog of movies a couple of years back. The most fortunate of us never had to wait, as Training Day has been a staple of a lot of film libraries for two decades and counting. If the crime drama genre is in your wheelhouse of interests, Training Day is a must own.
