We would like to analyze the American film, directed by Antoine Fuqua in 2001. The film is called “Training Day”. In that there are starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The exact genre of the film is very difficult to define. We would attribute it directly to the symbiosis of the three genres namely, a thriller, a drama and crime ("Training Day (2001)", n.d.).
We will briefly convey the essence of the movie, and then we would like to research how the film demonstrates leadership and influence. And so, it is the the first day at service for a young police officer named Jake Hoyt (played by Ethan Hawke) in the department for the fight against drugs. The guy is right there in the thick of crime in Los Angeles and is facing the fact that everything he had been taught in the academy does not work in the streets, and that his conception of justice and honor are too naive and idealized. Over there, there is prospering the philosophy of street justice, which is advocated by local gangs and a new boss of Jake, a veteran cop named Alonzo, in a very strong performance of Denzel Washington. Alonzo’s character is multifaceted and complicated. Yes, he is a corrupt cop; his methods are dishonest, illegal and cruel. But there is a force, he is respected and feared. He saw life, he knows the streets, and is well aware that legal means cannot help to fight against major drug dealers. We need to be like them, to stand above the law, otherwise it gives them a great advantage. He is high-experienced; his words are meaningless; he deeply believes in what he says and does – "To protect the sheep, it is necessary to destroy the wolf, and for this we need another wolf". Denzel made perfect his play, making others believe in that, feel both dislikes and respect to his character at the same time. The role of the bad guy is rare for the actor, but it is one of his best roles. Jake’s character is easier, but if less interesting, then only just a little bit. At first, he was a little annoying, but in the course of the film you are imbued with sympathy for him. Yes, the character is young and a little naive, but he is strong inside and stands on his rightness. He needs to make a difficult choice - a career and money, or own honor, justice, and the principles of law. Qualitatively built crime thriller keeps the audience in suspense until the final credits. The genre "Thriller" will ensure that the film is a mystery, but in "Training day" a disclosure of this secret is only half the plot. Then comes the question: how is the protagonist going to behave (replace Alonso or stand on his way)? Traditional wrestling for Hollywood "good guy - bad guy" in the movie shows the way, but near the end still gets more familiar form.
Why are we talking about leadership in the film? Indeed, in this film there is a strong leadership line, and the influence of authority is demonstrated very clearly and vividly. We would recommend this film to people who want to feel the importance of leadership qualities in the team, at work or anywhere else. First of all, we are talking about the character of Alonzo. He puts pressure on young teammates with his authority, and adding to it his personal leadership skills, he simply manipulates the employees, forcing them to adopt his own philosophy. So it happens with the young Jake – it is very easy to lead him astray, to make him violate his moral principles. Alonzo weighs just that, but makes a mistake. After going through a period of luck, a beginner understands that a police badge and a cross around his neck for Alonzo does not mean anything. At first, Jake obeys Alonzo as a pupil obeys the teacher, and sometimes does not agree, but always repeats his actions from smoking marijuana to search without a warrant and robbery with murder. The latter fully discloses the rules of the game, which leads Alonzo, and makes Jake wonder: Is it right that they do or have done, because he was taught in the Police Academy in a completely different way? As a result, everything turned in such a way that the student beat his mentor, the makings of his leadership and the ability to make arbitrary decisions, even in his first operational day, turned the Alonzo’s game upside down. At the forefront Jake, who has an even greater leadership potential and simply replays of his mentor moving from the role of pawns in the role of man, who takes the situation under control and will choose himself in which way Alonzo will go further.
Rеfеrеncеs
1. Training Day (2001). IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2016, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/
