THURSDAY,OCT.11,2001
ENTERTAINMENT
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
Electric Denzel Washington disturbing in 'Training Day'
Trailers for Training Day raise a question. Is it a straight action movie, or is it a social commentary about street justice in the Los Angeles Police Department?
Little by little, it becomes evident that Training Day is more concerned with entertaining viewers than teaching them a poignant life lesson. Who's complaining?
Training Day is a wild, roller-coaster ride, and with Denzel Washington's magnificent, over-the-top performance, it's well worth the trip.
Commentary
The movie is a well-crafted thrill machine, charged with electricity. True, it won't change the world, but by movie's end, you might have to change your pants.
Brandon Stinnett
Movie Reviewer
jayplankyanan.com
Ethan Hawke, in a strong performance overshadowed by Washington, plays Jake Hoyt, a young cop chosen for an elite narcotics team. For training, Jake is placed in the care of veteran narcotics officer Alonzo Harris (Washington), who teaches him how to survive on the mean streets.
Jake reluctantly obliques and hallucinates for a while after taking a couple hits. He regains coherency in time to spot two street punks attempting to rape a young girl
Jake's first assignment: Smoke marijuana laced with PCP that was confiscated from a suspect. Alonzo says the only way to survive among the hooligans on the street is to act like them.
After a prolonged struggle, he apprehends the criminals, and secures them in handcuffs. But
instead of arresting the delinquents, Alonzo inflicts a fullfledge beat down and leaves them living in pools of blood.
When questioned about his unorthodox antics, Alonzo says they are necessary to rid the streets of the most dangerous criminals.
At first, Jake appears willing to conform to Alonzo's methods, but his conformity quickly fades as Alonzo continues to blur the line between justice and lawlessness.
Does making the big arrests justify any means of investigation regardless of legality? And is Alonzo really concerned with justice in the first place?
In the end, Jake is forced to choose between career aspirations and standing up for what he knows is right.
washington's Alonzo is a far cry from characters he has portrayed in movies like The Hurricane and Remember the Titans.
It's soon apparent that Alonzo is dangerous not only to society, but to Jake. He's the bad guy here, orchestrating a reign of terror and masquerading it as justice. He gets away with it because most of his victims are criminals.
Training Day could have been an effective expose on corrupt cops and shady investigative tactics in the Los Angeles Police Department.
Instead, director Antoine Fuqua gives us an energetic action movie, with lots of excitement and interesting characters. Washington's performance alone makes it worthwhile.
Contact Stinnett at 864-4810
Training Day ★★★
Great movie of the week: Heat. Heat marks the first on-screen meeting between acting legends AI Pacino and Robert De Niro. It's an absorbing drama that chronicles the story of an obsessed cop's pursuit of a master criminal. Pacino and De Niro don't share much screen time, but when they do, it's pure movie magic.
Bad movie of the week: Me, Myself & Irene. Why this movie isn't funnier is beyond me. Peter and Bobby Farrell, the geniuses behind Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary failed to deliver with this comedy, starring Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger. There are a few laughs, but it is mostly one big disappointment.
LIVE MUSIC
Tonight
trucker, The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachus
setts St., 10 p.m.
Brent Barry and the Roots Crew, Bottle-
neck, 737 New Hampshire, 6 p.m.
The Daybirds with Kristie Stremel and Musico, Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., 10 p.m.
Matt Moon, The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St. 10 p.m.
The Schwag, Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. 10 p.m.
Simplexity, Raoul's Velvet Room, 815 New Hampshire St., 10 p.m.
- Resident Funk, Abe and Jake's, 8 East 6th St.,
- Black Mollys, Coco Loco Mexican Cafe, 943
Massachusetts St., 10 p.m
to become 'made men', getting involved with a more
laundering scheme and淑事, inducted into a low-level crime
criminal.
Jon Favreau took on the hat of director as well as writer for his latest project. Made, Favreau reunites with Swingers cast-master Paul Schrader and executive Puffy Combis and Peter Faller for this tale of two aspiring mobsters (Favreau, Vaughn) Los Angeles, who travel to New York
Robert Delhara, Edino Riera and Angela Bassett join forces in this story about master tennis players who has decided to retrieve from the racket and lose his stolen riches. He wants to spend his time and energy on his new jazz club. A young thief (Norton) will Wells' expertise, so he blackmails him into doing one more heist. Object of their intent is a pricess scoper from
film movies are shown at Woodruff Auditorium, Level 5 of the Kansas Union. Tickets are available at the Hawk Shop 4th floor, House Union. Admission is $2 or free with SUA Movie Card. Movie times and dates are subject to change. Please check our website at www.kueu/us-su for final schedules. For more information about movies or any other SUA program, please call the SUA Box Office
TICKETS HALF PRICE for KU STUDENTS
Friday, Oct. 12
Made
• 7:00 p.m.
The Score
• 9:30 p.m.
Made
• 7:00 p.m.
The Score
• 9:30 p.m.
Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando.
saturday, Oct. 13
Thursday, Oct. 11
Made
• 7:00 p.m.
The Score
• 9:30 p.m.
coming next week...
fall break, no movies
Friday, Oct.12
Tickets on sale at the Lied Center Box Office (785) 864-ARTS and via our website, liedku.edu
ticketmaster
(816) 931-3330
(785) 234-4545
Payless ShoeSource
KANSAS CITY COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT SENATE
WINTER AND
SPRING BREAK
BEACH & SKI TRIPS
on Sale Now!
LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS INC.
842-8665 2858 Four Wheel Dr.
Marybeth BettelMS
Counseling/Personal Coaching
Going through changes?
Marybeth Bethel MS
www.sunchase.com
1-800-SUNCHASE
I can help
842-5772 more info at
SPECIAL RATES FOR STUDENTS
www.becomemore.net
DON'S AUTO CENTER
"For all your repair needs"
* Import and Domestic
Repair & Maintenance
* Machine Shop Service
* Computer Diagnostics
841-4833
920 E. 11th Street
$2.00
Killian's Red
Bud Light
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT
weekly specials
Schooners
5-10 p.m.
Custom Pastas, Salads
and Soft Drink
SA.95
BAMBINO'S ITALIAN CAFÉ
Boulevard Night
Pale Ale Draws 75¢
Wheat Bottles $1.50
1801 MASSACHUSETTS
832-8800
Jumbo (32 oz.) Margaritas "on the rocks"
$2
Family-Style
Platters Serve 2-4 People
People Starting at $10.50
LUNCH SPECIAL Monday-Friday
Small Custom Pasata With Choice of House Salad or Cup of Soup
Only $4.95
Today's
KU Homecoming Events Feature:
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
"Sidewalk Chalk Contest see what spirit art can be created using the beach as a canvas. Vote for your favorite artistic creation with your change. All proceeds will be donated to the KU Hilltop
Wescoe Beach
Tomorrow's
KU Homecoming
Events Feature:
Crimson and Blue Day
SUA Tunes@Noon & Plaza Party Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally
Late Night With Roy
Float Display-
Allen Field House Lawn
Allen Field House Lawn Jayhawk Spirit Sing
Ex.C.E.L. Finalist Introductions
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