bnorthup
10-08-2001, 11:57 AM
Training Day (R) at the Gaslight
2.5 stars
Red blood on blue suits
Training Day review by Brent Northup
“Training Day” appears, on the surface, to be yet another violent buddy movie, without Bruce Willis. But, as it turns out, this cop movie rises slightly above the formula to tell a dark, absorbing tale.
The story is nothing new: an insecure, wet-behind-the-ears cop must survive his “training day” to earn his badge. His “trainer” is a hard-nosed veteran (Denzel Washington). We’ve seen this before.
But then the differences kick in. The trainee doesn’t swagger or tell jokes. He’s a family man who genuinely wants a life of public service. And the veteran isn’t a John Wayne prototype. Instead, he’s a corrupt man in blue whose most recent indiscretions threaten to end his career and, perhaps, his life.
One virtue of “Training Day” is the absence of humor – and the refusal to glorify the street violence. Most action films feature comic-book-style killings, delivered antiseptically, so that we never feel the pain. This time, the blood seems real and the fear is believable.
The drawback of “Training Day” is the ending, which stretches credibility. There were more realistic - less melodramatic - options.
Nevertheless, I found myself nodding in respect at “Training Day” for telling a dark story, without forcing us to laugh along the way.
2.5 stars
Red blood on blue suits
Training Day review by Brent Northup
“Training Day” appears, on the surface, to be yet another violent buddy movie, without Bruce Willis. But, as it turns out, this cop movie rises slightly above the formula to tell a dark, absorbing tale.
The story is nothing new: an insecure, wet-behind-the-ears cop must survive his “training day” to earn his badge. His “trainer” is a hard-nosed veteran (Denzel Washington). We’ve seen this before.
But then the differences kick in. The trainee doesn’t swagger or tell jokes. He’s a family man who genuinely wants a life of public service. And the veteran isn’t a John Wayne prototype. Instead, he’s a corrupt man in blue whose most recent indiscretions threaten to end his career and, perhaps, his life.
One virtue of “Training Day” is the absence of humor – and the refusal to glorify the street violence. Most action films feature comic-book-style killings, delivered antiseptically, so that we never feel the pain. This time, the blood seems real and the fear is believable.
The drawback of “Training Day” is the ending, which stretches credibility. There were more realistic - less melodramatic - options.
Nevertheless, I found myself nodding in respect at “Training Day” for telling a dark story, without forcing us to laugh along the way.