Alonzo Harris: Denzel Washington	Jake Hoyt: Ethan Hawke
Roger: Scott Glenn	Sara: Eva Mendes
Snoop Doggy Dogg	Dr. Dre
Director: Antoine Fuqua	Writer: David Ayer

30 Second Bottom Line: An undercover narcotics cop with 13 years on the force has a hidden agenda masked by his drill sergeant hazing tactics for his new partner's first day on the job.

Story Line: Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), as top cop of a no holds barred, no questions asked task force, does things to test his new partner Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) right out of the barrel. If Jake makes it through the day and remains in the narcotics unit, he has to know the right answer to give to the right people at the right time. Jake sees this new job as an opportunity to move up in the ranks and to some day run his own division; to be the top brass. As he tells his wife, Lisa (Charlotte Ayanna), before he leaves home to meet with Alonzo, "You should see those guys' houses."

As they make the rounds of the streets of South Central LA, operating out of Alonzo's office, which is a souped up Monte Carlo, we all get an education; Jake as well. Both verbal and body language along with strategically placed informants are the collateral on these corners. At Roger's (Scott Glenn) comfortable bungalow Alonzo and Jake sip $100 brandy and we discover he is a long time friend of Alonzo's and a big time drug dealer. Alonzo has indeed crossed over; he's so deep undercover that he's never coming out. A Menace II Society can come wrapped in either a wolf or sheep's clothing. Alonzo's question for Jake is, "Are you a wolf or a sheep?" He then encourages Jake to howl, like a wolf.

Alonzo's second family ties are very realistically portrayed and fit into his undercover role. It's not the first time a man has had sex with a woman, Sara (Eva Mendes), while his friend waits in the living room. Another scene is very reminiscent of one of the most famous scenes in the Godfather saga. The scenario is probably more realistic here than there and involves a shoot-out that will remind you of James Caan's fate.

Tell Me More About It: Washington and Hawke deliver Oscar caliber performances. While Training Day may not be a masterpiece, when it comes to comparing it to edgy thrillers such as Heist, The Score, 15 Minutes, 3000 Miles to Graceland, etc.-it is. The dialogue is over the top yet not full of clichés. Writer David Ayer has outdone what renowned writers such as David Mamet (Heist) and Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown) are known for-sharp writing. Take that and put it in the hands of Denzel Washington and an actor who can more than hold his own with him, Ethan Hawke, and we are on the streets with them in mind and spirit.

Foreshadowing is used quite effectively as compared to most films. You are not given red herrings and when a young woman's wallet has a major impact on the outcome of a scene in a bathtub, the acting and dialogue are just superb. This is a great movie moment.

Some will knock the film for having so many dramatic events in one day and an over the top ending. What they forget is that Alonzo owes the Russian mob $1 million dollars and his plans for big time drug dealer Roger and Jake had been in the making for awhile. The deadline set by the mob to repay his debts forced a compression of events into a short time frame.

Watching Denzel act in this film can only remind you of just how good some people are at their craft. Should you doubt that, reflect on how Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert DeNiro, Sean Connery, Tom Hanks and Anthony Hopkins seem to make a contribution to every movie they are in, often to the point that if they were not there, the film would not be as good. From his first to his last words and actions, Denzel is on point. He's got the swagger, the tone, the smile, the look, the ability to say "my n-----," the rheumy moisture in his eyes and whatever is needed for the scene to make it real as it wants to be.

The answer is-it's time! The question is, time for what? It's time for Denzel to get the Oscar for best actor. If Russell Crowe was overlooked in The Insider and Proof of Life, he was paid back with the questionable Gladiator. Denzel was a clear standout in both Malcolm X and Hurricane. It's time. It's long past time.

Denzel Washington: Remember the Titans	Ethan Hawke: Waking Life
Snoop Doggy Dogg: Baby Boy	Dr. Dre: Set it Off
Scott Glenn: Vertical Limit	Eva Mendes: Exit Wounds
Antione Fuqua: The Replacement Killers	David Ayer: The Fast and the Furious