An outstanding performance by Washington, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of a top cop gone bad. Ethan Hawke plays the rookie Jake Hoyt who on his first day working under Narcotics officer Alonza Harris (Washington) starts to realise his new partner/teacher is a little to one side of the law. It's a gritty and very real picture which keeps you on the edge of you seat throughout. Washington isn't the only person who plays it well, Hawke also deserves credit for his very believable take of a young rookie pitted against an army of seriously rogue lawmen. His performance is not only impressive but definitely worthy of an award like the films lead. Training Day is a relatively hard film to watch simply because of the sheer horror of it's story. This horror is not 100% cosmetic but it is there and it plays a large part in the overall power of the movie. You genuinely fear for Hawkes character in some parts of the film and Washington's character becomes even more distasteful as the story plays out. It's essentially a battle of morals, it's about a young cop learning to follow what is right in his heart and not what all his other senses try to tell him. Training Day is a must see movie but it's not really suited to someone just looking for light hearted entertainment.

4/5