2001 Rewind: Training Day


It's hard to believe, but 2001 was 25 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 2001 that are turning 25 in 2026. Today, it's a film that earned Denzel and Oscar.

Alonzo Harris: [to Jake] To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf.

Training Day
Starring: Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke
Director: Antione Fuqua
About: This film asks the question of whether you're willing to sell your soul? Or, more accurately, how corruptible are you? It features Washington in an electric lead role that earned him an Academy Award and Hawke as his young protege. Hawke's character is a bit innocent, but trying to fit in with a prestigious new unit. Washington's Alonzo is a veteran who is as corrupt as those he seeks to bring to justice. He shows Jake the ropes over the course of a difficult day that forces Jake to face up to who he is, or rather who he wants to be. I don't love the story here, but this is no doubt one heck of a performance from Washington. It's worth checking out for him alone, and for the way it brings things to a somewhat fitting close. Even 25 years later, this remains a powerful example of films from 2001.

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