When Training Day was released in Mexico in the dead middle of November of 2001, I had no idea what I was in for. The trailers did spoil a bit of the story, but thankfully we still had a few great lines and bits of dialogue that took you by the neck.

Set over the course of one day, Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) rides along Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) on the lesser seen side of Los Angeles. These seedier parts are seldom seen in cinema, unless the genre is “sad hood movie” (as Moses Primm would call them) or for punkier film makers, like Alex Cox and his masterpiece Repo Man.

As the story progresses, Hoyt loses his wide-eyed view of the detective role, and soon realises that it’s not only his job aspiration what’s on the line, it’s his moral integrity and his very life. Only through sheer luck, a good action, and Harris’ hubris does he survive what feels like a killscreen situation.

David Ayer’s script is tight, as they usually are, and his own experiences seep through the setting, the lines, and the demeanor of his characters. There are shades of grey, but there’s also a line that Hoyt won’t cross. He’s not made for what Harris does, and he’s better for it.

Antoine Fuqua cut his teeth on music videos, and many shots in this movie fit the bill. That cut to a car blasting Krumbsnatcha’s w.o.l.v.e.s. lives rent free in my head, so as the masterfully shot sequence when Harris and Hoyt steal Macy Gray’s cash. And that climb up the stairs to Smiley’s house, while Cypress Hill’s Rock Superstar blasts? Perfection.

As the movie proceeds, the songs get darker, and with night fall you get shorter cues of the larger score pieces Mark Mancina composed. Death is certain is a short, one minute sigh. It’s Alonzo Harris’ impending doom. He is devious, too clever for his own good, and his own ego is his downfall. He’s planned everything, except for Hoyt being adamant about corruption. By all means, Harris was never going to succeed. Too much of a problem for his “three wise men”. Too arrogant for his crew, who’ve witnessed him shotgunning a “friend”. One step too far for the Russians. Hence his death being certain.

-Sam J. Valdés López