“Training Day” (2001) | Denzel’s Villain Era, LAPD Mythmaking & the King Kong Monologue

We ride shotgun with Detective Alonzo Harris—Denzel Washington in his most dangerous, charismatic form—and break down why Training Day remains one of the most unforgettable crime thrillers ever made.

From the PCP test and the Jungle scene to rooftop showdowns and Russian retribution, we unpack the film’s mythic structure, wild cameos, and career-defining performances by both Denzel and Ethan Hawke.

We talk legacy, production chaos, Fuqua’s direction, and the real-life corruption that shaped David Ayer’s script. Plus: the best line, the best fit, and why Alonzo Harris is the only villain who gets killed and still wins the movie.

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Nightshift clocks in after dark for deep dives into the movies you love. Each episode revisits iconic films through storytelling, performance, cultural impact, and the business decisions that shaped them. The conversations are opinionated, reflective, and rooted in rewatching movies that still stick with us.

Nightshift is about understanding why certain films endure, how they shaped our taste, and what they still say about the eras that produced them.

🎙️ Part of the Housecats Podcast Network

🔗 Network hub: https://www.thehousecatspod.com

🔗 Listen on audio: Spotify & Apple Podcasts

New episodes drop regularly.