Training day (2001)

A rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be.

Director:

Antoine Fuqua

Writer:

David Ayer

Stars:

Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denzel Washington	...	Alonzo
Ethan Hawke	...	Jake
Scott Glenn	...	Roger
Tom Berenger	...	Stan Gursky
Harris Yulin	...	Doug Rosselli
Raymond J. Barry	...	Lou Jacobs
Cliff Curtis	...	Smiley
Dr. Dre	...	Paul
Snoop Dogg	...	Blue
Macy Gray	...	Sandman's Wife
Charlotte Ayanna	...	Lisa
Eva Mendes	...	Sara (as Eva Mendez)
Nick Chinlund	...	Tim
Jaime Gomez	...	Mark (as Jaime P. Gomez)
Raymond Cruz	...	Sniper

Storyline

In Los Angeles, a city where streets are overrun by drug dealers, those who have sworn to uphold the law are breaking them to clean up the streets. Denzel Washington plays L.A.P.D. detective Alonzo Harris, a veteran narcotics officer whose methods of enforcing the law are questionable, if not corrupt. 'Training Day' follows Harris as he trains rookie Jake Hoyt over a 24-hour period. Ethical dilemmas arise for Hoyt as well as the audience as questions present themselves as to whether or not Harris' methodology for ridding the streets of South Central Los Angeles of drugs is right or wrong.

---

Plot Keywords:

narc | day of reckoning | die hard scenario | wedding ring | neo noir | 

---

Taglines:

The only thing more dangerous than the line being crossed, is the cop who will cross it.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

K-15

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie is unique in Academy Awards history in that it's the only time an African-American, Denzel Washington, won the Best Actor Oscar as directed by a fellow African-American, Antoine Fuqua.

---

Goofs

The money shown when Roger's hidden stash is found under the kitchen is made up entirely of $50 bills, but the picture on the bills is clearly not President Grant, who appears on all $50 bills. Also, each of the bundles has a stamp in the upper right quadrant which reads, "For Motion Picture Use Only".

---

Quotes

Alonzo Harris: [repeated line to several people in different situations] It's not what you know, it's what you can prove.

---

Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits after the title is shown.

---

Connections

Featured in Todd's Pop Song Reviews: Gorilla (2013)

---

Soundtracks

Let Us Go
Performed by King Jacob and Professor

User Reviews

It's my favourite movie

I remember being lent this on DVD during the summer holidays by a mate soon after it was out. I must have watched it every day/second day for about a month! I loved it so much I could never get enough. Denzel and Ethan are a perfect match for this movie; I can't imagine anyone else playing their rolls. Can you? You will either love this movie or find it just a way to 'pass a night'. If you connect with it then you'll never forget it. I know I haven't and I haven't watched it since 2002 because I can remember every part in detail! Training Day is one of those movies which breaks new ground in terms of how a movie can come across to people. It was filmed in such locations such as Imperial Courts neighborhood which, until now, hasn't been filmed. The talk is the talk... you get a real sense of what it's like for these guys as narcotic officers and for what it's like for these guys as the 'bad guys' themselves. At the end of they day they're "Just people and they always were" (Ethan Hawk in a making of Traning day interview).

The movie isn't the fastest paced one around - there are some slow moments but they are played out meaningfully due to some great acting talent which gels the scenes together well. The more you watch it, the more subtle lines and actions you will pick up which make this movie authentic.

Overall, to each his own. I have found this to be one of my favorite movies due to great acting, great directing, great casting (Hawk, Washington, Scott Glen etc) and an interesting storyline.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Spanish Korean Greek

Release Date:

16 November 2001 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Training day

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,550,788, 7 October 2001

Gross USA:

$76,631,907

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$104,876,233

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1