Anyone who has started a new job knows how terrifying it can be. Antoine Fuqua's film, Training Day shows just how scary it can get. After viewing the film, most critics were not really sure what they thought of it. I am split as well between, Denzel Washington's charismatic performance, Ethan Hawke's underdeveloped character, and the horrid script written by David Ayer. He has the audience continuously debating; whose side should I be on?

From the beginning, Washington's character, Alonzo Harris show signs of being impatient and rude when he hangs up on his new trainee Jake Hoyt (played by Ethan Hawke). When Alonzo takes Jake to his "office," which turns out to be his customized, black Monte Carlo, hydraulics and all, he immediately cuts Jake off from any other authority figure. It felt slightly shady, but this was particularly sly because he is now solely in the hands of Alonzo. Alonzo's street slang rolls off his tongue, obviously from his need to use it. He's on a first-name basis with some of the lowest of the low in his business. Everyone on the street knows he is a cop, but they also know that as long as you do not get on his bad side and give him information every now and then

Ethan Hawke's character Jake Hoyt however, could have been played by any naive choir boy out there. Training Day is supposed to be Jake's story; the audience is supposed to relate to Hoyt. I, however, never quite felt the connection that Fuqua was obviously aiming for. It was very difficult for me to connect with Jake. As I stated aloft, anyone who has started a new job knows how terrifying it can be. You wander through blindly, putting on a happy face, latching onto your authority figures for help. But Alonzo proves intimidating at best and downright scary at worst. Jake tries his best to be friendly, but Alonzo verbally knocks him on his back side, warning him that to show the slightest hint of warmth on the street can be fatal. Throughout the film Jake's morals are tested and pushed to the very brink of destruction. He wants this job so bad that he allows himself and his beliefs to be molested and manipulated by Alonzo. This is evident when Jake succumbs to Alonzo's malicious pressure and smokes the PCP laced marijuana. The film never shows me how Jake is right for this job. It goes into detail on Alonzo's history, as the story unfolds, but all I know about Jake is he wants to be a detective and he and his wife have an infant child. And this is supposed to be Jake's story?! I find it very hard to believe that Hoyt has never heard anything about Alonzo's ruthless ways. Hawke plays the part well, but I believe that he can do so much better. The character was down played too much. When the surprises come, I am ready for them, sadly Hoyt is not.

, he could help you out or at least leave you alone. I believe that Washington has a good understanding of the role it's all about the ecstasy of power. As the film progresses I can see why William Arnold of the Seattle Post says, "...he plays his first all-out, unmitigated, scenery-chewing fiend of a villain." Alonzo commits the most violent of crimes but Washington acts so smoothly that I'm almost convinced that he is r

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