Question: How do you prevent yourself from becoming what you fear the most?Answer: You can't.

In an effort to gain respect and safety among the hoodlums he'sinvestigating, narcotics detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) hasbecome the poster boy for the thug lifestyle. With his black leatherjacket, silver chains and wool skullcap, he blurs the line between good andevil with just enough of each to keep both sides satisfied.

Rookie Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) has been assigned the dubious task of a"hands-on" Training Day with the urban legend to see if he's man enough towalk the beat in the roughest part of town with the toughest teacheraround. Over the course of 24 hours, Hoyt must learn the survival skillsHarris is attempting to teach him without losing his own ideals.Slack-jawed and wide-eyed, Hoyt questions if both men are really on thesame side when faced with difficult decisions on the streets.

Washington walked away with an Academy Award for his portrayal of Harris, agood cop gone bad by the desire to "get the bad guys." His bone-chillingwords and glares were such unusual contradictions to his typical "good guy"roles that he created a believable villain with a tarnished heart of goldyou couldn't help but wish would turn around and go straight. No such luck.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this gritty film features actual gang membersfrom the locations where it was filmed for the true authentic feel. It wasalso the first time movie cameras were allowed into this section of gangterritory. There is no win or lose on the streets. It's live or die.