TRAINING DAY (2001)

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"Denzel Washington takes on a different kind of a role in this film and he essentially steals the show."

What makes the film work is Alonzo's descent into the depths of depravity. At first, he offers a logical reason for any action he performs. As we learn more, it becomes clear that it's Alonzo's familiarity and rise from a world he despises that ultimately drags him down a path of abuse. He is a police officer who is unable to arrive at a higher ground and behaves just like the thugs he wishes would kill themselves off. His viewpoint ultimately ends up being self-fulfilling.

Denzel Washington takes on a different kind of a role in this film and he essentially steals the show. Ethan Hawke is well cast as a naive cop looking to "make it big". The pacing and direction by Antoine Fuqua is kinetic. There is enough of a plot and unexpected things happening to keep the film interesting.

The movie touches upon the hint of a corrupt regime where leaders in the ranks of police act like feudal warlords. Whether this is a correct characterisation of the LAPD or not is debatable, but it is within the realm of possibility. The moral that absolute power corrupts absolutely should not be taken lightly, and this film illustrates that no one is immune.