Training Day

Training Day is a 2001 film starring Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris, a decorated and corrupt police officer, and Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt, his new green recruit looking to become a detective in Narcotics division. The entire movie takes place over a single intense 24-hour period that changes the lives of both officers. The movie was written by David Ayer and directed by Antoine Fuqua, both of whom grew up in gang neighborhoods.

Related Topics:
2001 - Film - Denzel Washington - Police officer - Ethan Hawke - David Ayer - Antoine Fuqua - Gang

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Fuqua wanted Training Day to look as authentic as possible, and he shot on location in some of the most infamous neighborhoods of Los Angeles, California. He even obtained permission from gangs to shoot in the notoriously dangerous Imperial Court housing project. His crew ended up receiving a warm welcome from local residents, who were all happy that a movie was being made that showed some of the regular life that exists in their world. When Fuqua wasn't able to shoot a scene directly on location, he did an outstanding job of recreating these locations on sets.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles, California - Imperial Court housing project

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There were two police officers on hand as technical advisors, Michael Patterson and Paul Lozada. Shiheed "Bone" Sloan served as the gang advisor. Washington and Hawke also met with local drug dealers and gang bangers to help them understand their roles better.

Related Topics:
Technical advisor - Michael Patterson - Paul Lozada - Shiheed "Bone" Sloan - Drug dealer - Gang banger

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Denzel Washington's portrayal of Alonzo Harris gathered the glowing praise from the critics. Fuqua wanted his character to be seductive and part of a machine, and not just a random rogue cop. In Washington's own words,

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:"I think in some ways he?s done his job too well. He?s learned how to manipulate, how to push the line further and further, and, in the process, he?s become more hard-core than some of the guys he?s chasing."

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In the movie Harris shows a liking towards Hoyt, and in many ways he sees Hoyt as a younger version of himself, naive and idealist before being hardened by harsh realities of drug enforcement routine and turning into a criminal himself.

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Training Day brings up a moral dilemma of committing little crimes to prevent large ones and getting things done effectively the "illegal" way.

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Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Ethan Hawke was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Related Topics:
Academy Award for Best Actor - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

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Training Day also features appearances by Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger, Harris Yulin, Eva Mendes and musical artists Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Macy Gray.

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Scott Glenn - Tom Berenger - Harris Yulin - Eva Mendes - Dr. Dre - Snoop Dogg - Macy Gray

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