Last night I watched Training Day. It was a rental DVD from Blockbuster. This was the film of last year, that won Denzel Washington his Best Bloke Oscar.

In short, it's the story of a rookie cop, played by Ethan Hawke, who's just joined an elite squad of narcotics detectives, and the film follows his first day in the group. He spends the day with the leader of the group, played by Denzel. This is referred to as a 'training day' from which the movie gets its name.

At the start of the movie, you could be forgiven for thinking it's yet another "he's an unconventional cop on the edge, and he gets a new, straight-laced partner" movie. In fact, you' d be pretty much right. But the thing is, it's been a while since this kind of movie has hit the big screen, and it's been even longer since it's been done so well.

It was quite a way into the film, before I saw Denzel's oscar-winning performance. To start with he just plays the hard-nosed team-leader. As the story progresses, however, Denzel gets a chance to turn up the nut-case-ometer, and (without wanting to spoil things if you've not seen it) ends up shouting (to a crowd of his neighbours), "I'm bigger than King Kong". If this was a 'Carry-On' movie, you could guess the context of that quote, but as it's not, I won't give the game away.

Ethan Hawke, meanwhile, gives a great performance. His interpretation of the character, protrays him as a newbie, but nonetheless, not someone who's afraid to stand up for himself. He gets involved in quite a few punch-ups, and certainly holds his own against all manner of opponents.

Overall, the film - set in L.A. - portrays it's location, and the local population fairly true-to-life. This is probably because the guy who wrote it, David Ayer, grew up in the exact suburb (Ramparts) of L.A., in which the film is set. The language in the film, together with the violence, fully justify its 'R' rating, but shouldn't upset most adults (unless you're the sensitive, church-going type, or just easily shocked).

By the end of the film, I was all set to go record my own gansta rap record. I chatted with a friend, over ICQ, immediately afterwards, and she was quite surprised at my choice of language! I told her I was Mac Daddy Max, and was 'down wid ma hommies, MC Smiley Miles and Queen La Saoirse'.

That said, the only time I've been near the Ramparts, was at Windsor Castle, and LA for me, is Luton Airport. I guess I've a way to go before I ring Def Jam Records.