Training Day (2001)

A cracking cop drama anchored by Washington's fantastic against-type performance and Fuqua's thoughtful, stylish direction, evoking an urban LA Confidential with tense set-pieces and moral complexity. It is slightly marred by an unsatisfactory climax.

This is a powerful anti-buddy movie set on the mean streets of LA, directed with style and snap by Antoine Fuqua and anchored by highly credible characterisations from its two stars. Though the script succumbs to some cop clichés, this does not blunt the persuasive effect of the work from all concerned.

The critic calls the film a rock-solid thriller that traces a corrupt cop's abuse of power and notes how it blurs the lines between police and criminals in a gritty, ironic narrative.

The critic praises how the film sharpens the edges of the veteran-rookie buddy-cop formula into something riveting, with Denzel Washington's charismatic, rule-breaking narcotics officer driving the action. Hawke's rookie is drawn in despite the escalating danger.

The review highlights Denzel Washington's striking performance as a morally ambiguous narcotics officer and commends the screenplay's exploration of the line between cops and criminals, though it finds the final act a letdown.

A gripping but retrograde dirty-cop thriller that delivers a simple, brutal pleasure in its first act before descending into genre bilge with a routine climax. Terrific acting, especially from Washington and an understated Hawke, stands out.

The critic praises Denzel Washington's exceptional, edge-pushing performance that elevates the film, noting it creates a wall-to-wall uneasiness in L.A. streets and gives audiences great acting and something to ponder despite an ending that resolves in cops-and-robbers style.

The critic praises the film's kinetic energy and Denzel Washington's over-the-top, villainous performance as a corrupt cop, noting it shades into humor and that he enjoyed the ride despite plot excesses and implausibilities in the final act.

Antoine Fuqua's gritty, highly-intense crime policier is his most satisfying and technically accomplished picture to date, with taut direction and splendid acting from the two leads, especially Denzel Washington's bravura performance as the monstrous, seductive corrupt officer Alonzo. The film elevates above the routine policier thanks to the leads' work and masterful tension-building scenes.

Praises Denzel Washington’s showy, villainous turn as the corrupt narcotics cop who puts his rookie partner through humiliating and dangerous initiations. Notes the film is well-acted and competently directed but faults its excessive length and reliance on a contrived final coincidence.

The critic finds Denzel Washington's turn as a corrupt cop electrifying and praises the film's taut direction and script for revitalizing familiar cop-drama territory.

The critic calls it the most vital police drama in years for its power and darker ambiguity, singling out Denzel Washington's charismatic, frightening, and complex performance as the rogue cop while noting some trashy and contrived elements.

The critic finds the film intermittently successful as a police drama but ultimately a glib potboiler, highlighting Denzel Washington's notable, larger-than-life performance as the Machiavellian corrupt cop while noting it relies too much on action-movie retribution.

The critic sees a nifty B-movie underneath the glossy cop thriller, with Denzel Washington delivering a standout performance as the best bad cop in years. Director Fuqua keeps it slick and sleazy, though the script is more propulsive than credible.

The critic finds the film an in-your-face, manipulative take on police corruption that feels episodic at first but builds with military precision in its plotting. Washington delivers a shocking, energetic performance against type as the corrupt Alonzo, while Hawke grows convincingly into his role as the rookie.