Ultra-Gritty Denzel Washington Crime Thriller Returns to Streaming: “Pulls you in from the first frame”
If I know one thing about our base, it’s that you all are quite fond of a gritty crime thriller. Perhaps it’s the fact that such films allow us to safely escape to an unsafe place. There’s something quite compelling about that. It’s like going on a thrill ride. Deep down, you know you’re going to be just fine, yet you still get a massive adrenaline rush from the experience.
While plenty of crime thrillers allow viewers to safely escape into the narrative, few hold the distinction of starring the one and only Denzel Washington in an Oscar-winning performance. Believe it or not, a picture that checks all of those boxes is presently dominating the Paramount+ charts.
That’s right, dear reader, the Oscar-winning Denzel Washington crime thriller Training Day is currently the seventh most-watched film on the streamer. More than 20 years on from release, the flick is finding new life through the platform.
Training Day plays out as follows:
Police drama about a veteran officer who escorts a rookie on his first day with the LAPD’s tough inner-city narcotics unit. “Training Day” is a blistering action drama that asks the audience to decide what is necessary, what is heroic, and what crosses the line in the harrowing gray zone of fighting urban crime. Does law-abiding law enforcement come at the expense of justice and public safety? If so, do we demand safe streets at any cost?
Both critics and fans connected with this unflinching effort thanks to top-notch performances from Washington as corrupt cop Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as his idealistic partner, Jake Hoyt. The film tackles heavy themes and topics like police corruption with nuance. Not to mention, many have taken care to praise David Ayer’s (The Fast and the Furious) thoughtful screenplay, Antoine Fuqua’s (The Equalizer) deft direction, and the efficacy of the pacing.
In case you need further convincing, see below for a sampling of social media reactions:
Whether you haven’t experienced this standout effort in a while, or you’re eager to take it in for the first time, you can now find the film streaming on Paramount+.
That just about wraps it up for us, for the time being. Make sure to stay tuned to Dread Central in the near future for more timely and exciting updates from the streaming space. If you fancy the idea of keeping tabs on me in the meantime, you can always find me on Threads. I am active on the platform as @FunWithHorror.
Categorized: News
