Director Antoine Fuqua cunningly takes us through the uneasy mentor-trainee relationship portrayed by Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Washington delivers another Oscar-winning performance playing the canny, charming, and corrupt narcotics agent who takes his untrusting trainee Hawke into the drug-ridden neighborhood where he lives and works.
The film starts with ambitious family man Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) waking up to his first day of training as a narcotics agent. Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) makes it clear that he will be "holding no hands," and that it is up to Hoyt to prove whether or not he is worthy of being the next addition to Alonzo's team.
As the two drive around, Hoyt spots two men attempting to rape a girl in an alleyway. Hoyt is shocked that Harris keeps driving on after he's been informed and says that it isn't what he's interested in. Hoyt determined to act, gets out of the car and saves the girl after fighting off the two thugs.
The rest of the day is a spiral of greater disappointments for Hoyt as he discovers his training day is more a revelation of the deep layers of corruption. Harris takes him around meeting ex-LAPD officers turned drug dealers, shaking down people for money or drugs, and even forcing Hoyt to smoke PCP so as to fit in. Harris' rationale, in order to stop the wolves from killing the sheep, you have to become one.
Hoyt witnesses just how much Harris himself has turned when he joins members of Harris' unit in a 'drug bust,' which leads to the unnecessary killing of Scott Glenn. Hoyt realizes Harris was after Glenn's money more than anything when the unit begins fabricating the details of the bust. Hoyt protests against going along with this, but is forced to stay quiet once Harris reminds him that a blood test at the station could be cause enough to find him guilty of acting erratically and accidentally killing Glenn.
Hoyt finds himself discovering a plot much larger than just a day of initiation and in desperate need for an outlet to a surprise tight spot.
What does go smoothly is the clever execution by both Washington and Hawke in coloring a cop drama and deepening our awareness of the dynamics of corruption.
Nominated for two Academy awards: Academy award winner Denzel Washinton for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Nominee Ethan Hawke for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Rated R for brutal violence, pervasive language, drug content and brief nudity.
Running time: 120 mins