Training Day - How Denzel Washington Improvised as Alonzo Harris

[@Thebeautifuleye]

Alonzo is the perfect balance between intelligent, sociopathy, charm, cunning, and ruthless.

[@garfieldharrison510]

When you take out the intelligent ,that’s exactly who Orangeman is who is reapplying for the executive position again. All what you said explained that fool who is running again. This was a character in a mobben . Dangerous character. Done!

[@slavicsandvich5967]

@@garfieldharrison510 TDS moment.

[@Ergotfungi]

Until he wasn't.. 🫠

[@ChrisG-l2l]

Well said

[@jarrodanderson2124]

perfect sociopath

[@qjames0077]

"KING KONG AINT GOT SHIT ON ME!" - *Alonzo Harris*

[@VVguy1]

Same characters.

[@forcelightningcable9639]

“I’m Malibu’s most wanted, y’all! King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on me!” B-Rad aka Whitey Kong

[@southsidedon9037]

The most legendary delivery ever!

[@Struckgold]

'You gotta have a little dirt on you for anyone to trust you'. Maybe my favourite line in any film.

[@Ishbikes]

I always bring up that line to my brother. That’s a *life* line.

[@Soldier_Sean]

Thats on some 1llum1naughty shit

[@TheSubwaysurfer]

Seems like to be a undercover cop that needs to be true

[@AxeMan808]

@@TheSubwaysurfer The whole "FAKE SNORTING COCAINE", "FAKE INJECTING HEROIN", "FAKE TAKING PILLS" thing makes me go "COME THE FUCK ON HOW DID YOU NOT SEE THAT" every time. EDIT: Oh i didn't finish. ** so that's why the undercovers do that shit for real because they don't want to get POPPED by faking it ** and now there's some dirt.

[@jeremybrown9611]

Makes sense tho

[@leviathanmg]

I remember an interview with Mel Gibson in 2000, about a year prior to the film's release. The interviewer asked Gibson if he had seen anything recently coming down the pipeline that excited him. Mel mentioned a movie with Denzel in it as a dirty cop and his eyes got big like, "Ooh... this one... Denzel... they're not gonna be ready." As soon as I saw how his face changed, I just got a feeling about it that would later be confirmed on Oscar night. He called it: It was a Denzel people hadn't seen, one they wouldn't be able to look away from, one they'd never forget.

[@samsonnicholas576]

Is there a link to this?

[@andreilyas1426]

.

[@tonis5140]

​@@samsonnicholas576 You do know Google exists, yes?

[@samsonnicholas576]

@@tonis5140 well obviously I’ve searched it and had trouble finding it, maybe try not being a prick? A suggestion.

[@tonis5140]

@samsonnicholas576 It isn't obvious. I don't know you anymore than you know me. What I do know is there was no assumption anyone was a prick from my pov

[@genesisflix]

Another thing i really like about this script is that Jake isn’t innocent. His ambition overwhelms him to the extent that he does drugs on duty rather than fail his assessment. That one decision enables everything else that happens in the film, including his pending urinalysis being used as a threat against him.

[@chillbest14]

Great observation

[@pasjan1183]

I mean he was at gunpoint. I wouldnt exactly call it a fault to anyones character what he did.

[@genesisflix]

@@pasjan1183 it’s not a fault to your character or mine. But to a cop? And a pretty good cop at that? I can’t recall exactly but i think he was given the option to get out of the car. That was the right call. Not saying i wouldn’t have smoked it, because I would also have wanted the job. But the character of Jake is supposed to be better than us.

[@genesisflix]

@@pasjan1183 but I’m not trying to be hard on him, because he was shown to have outstanding character, even when he found out that the whole department was basically corrupt. I’m just highlighting how some seemingly insignificant mistakes can be detrimental or life-altering.

[@sukottoshinobe7360]

“ i’ve been planning it all week, son”

[@cammyg24]

Gotta give Ethan credit for bouncing off Denzel, that’s no easy task.

[@stellviahohenheim]

I can't get over his boogered nose during the tub scene

[@murk4552]

​@@stellviahohenheimthat was your focus? 😂

[@EzeICE]

​@@murk4552 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheHotSauce1]

Ethan is a phenomenal actor, and someone who's had his hands in a few off the cuff lines too. There were no better actors to give those two characters such vivacity and spark than Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke

[@J-Hue]

I've seen more highly touted actors in his position ruin big scenes trying to keep up with legendary co stars like Denzel's more bombastic scenes and performances and trying to match their energy. Ethan Hawk played it perfectly to where, I appreciate his performance more and more as time goes on.

[@rayvinkrossing]

During the climax, I've always loved the little quip Denzel throws out about snoop dogg's character. "Remember that fool in the wheelchair? How you think he got there?" Something about the way he says that is so haunting.

[@SolidSnake240]

Training Day has such good world building through the dialog. You get the sense that off camera, Alonzo was doing his thing before he met up with Jake.

[@wambokodavid7109]

Bro...we never see him do shit but damn does he oze danger.thats a badman.u see bad things around you then later realise he did them

[@SamTheMan666]

I often mimic Alonzo Harris's body language when I need to be confident and it works surprisingly well, that's a testament to the life Denzel Washington brought to the character.

[@andrewverrett568]

So you're being fake? 😂

[@musstakrakish]

​@@andrewverrett568 no he's taking intimidating tactics and making them his own. That's pretty obvious what he's doing.

[@forcelightningcable9639]

@@andrewverrett568I once got laid by lowkey talking like Tommy Shelby all night get your w’s how you can

[@SamTheMan666]

@@andrewverrett568 Tell me you don't understand my comment, without telling me you don't understand my comment.

[@SamTheMan666]

@@musstakrakish Thank you.

[@chrisrubio8212]

We already knew he earned that Oscar, but damn.

[@J-Hue]

This breakdown really puts in context what a master class performance he put on.

[@increase9896]

You put it perfectly. Denzel has PRESENCE. Some actors just have that undeniable ability to keep you captivated anytime they are in the scene. I recently watched On the Waterfront and Streetcar Named Desire, both for the first time. Marlon Brando had that same thing... I was just so much more interested every time he was in a scene. I had previously only ever seen the Godfather which he was great in as well.

[@akshayde]

That's why they get paid the big bucks. A good actor is a magician and that's why we gravitate towards them. It's their face, their body language, little nuances that seem simple enough and you think you could do that too but they put life into it

[@Moheader]

To this day Training Day stays in my top movie list, and Denzel is 90% of the reason why. His villian character differs strongly from other villians in other crime/thriller movies, he feels so real, so down to earth, not exaggerating his immorality in a rather fantasy or fiction oriented way, he summarizes the true egotestical A-holes you would see outside on the street, no fear for social norms or standards, courage for the sake of own ill-advised desires (power, wealth, sex), and the complete denial once all of that which preserved their nonchalant or threatening image is over, so their desires become unachievable, and their image of power becomes history, and their nonchalance becomes more of a threat than a buttress for how they interact with the world around of them. (His nonchalancy would've just catalyzed the Russians hunt for him). He also fits well in describing the problem of the wolf character, as in the devilishly aggressive loner, in movies and literature. Wolves fail not necessarily because of their motives or actions, but because they are loners (Ironically irl wolves are not tho). Alonzo, while trying to hype up things with the people in the hood, one could still perceive him as a loner as in being totally different than others, totally investing work and time to his own shit, and only involving others as long as he knows that he's the biggest winner in the game, and people just deal with him for business. Not only doesn't he get much support or recognition by society, but he also becomes more deceived into his own beliefs to the point where the truth would just lead them to denial again. I don't think that there are many characters like Alonzo the wolf, the closest I could think of is Tom Cruise in "Collateral", he also symbolizes the identity of a wolf with his grey hair and outfit with the "hunting" face he always shows.

[@ninjanibba4259]

I think Matthew McConahay in Wolf of Wall Street can be up there too, one scene of his character talking to Leo’s sets the rest of the movie on the path of where it goes with Leo’s character of self destruction but also the big bad Wolf as a leader when he was the shy student once One lunch scene…that’s all it took

[@fabricioestevam6297]

As an independent filmmaker with a low budget, I say: Having the opportunity to work with an actor of this caliber one day is a dream come true.

[@torachan23]

Make your dreams a reality

[@musstakrakish]

Hope to see your films someday!!

[@fabricioestevam6297]

@@musstakrakish Thank you. I hope so too.

[@stellviahohenheim]

You prepared to sacrifice your manhood? Hollywood will demand it

[@dc7236]

How can I see some of ur work sir... I want to show some support

[@hobsssssssification]

This could be a whole channel: what's on the script juxtaposed with what the actor actually did with it. It's so captivating. Brilliantly done.

[@carter9607]

Forget could be a channel. Please someone make it a channel. I'd watch everything religiously

[@AW-kr9fl]

Denzel’s improv is so fresh and elevates the material. Incredible performance.

[@Diggy22]

That feeling when an improvised moment becomes the most quoted line of a decade. No wonder Antoine Fuqua always works with Denzel; it takes a good director to capture a great actor's prime performances.

[@code.islife493]

It's no way he was 47.

[@unfiltered8682]

Unbelievable but true

[@user-zb8ss9xb1b]

My same thought Sir! I had to pause the video to properly say "No effin way!".

[@jordanschlansky4093]

Black don't crack

[@torachan23]

Shame he wasted such good looks and talent being shackled to just one woman who is nowhere near his level

[@jordanschlansky4093]

@@torachan23 In the cesspool called Hollywood it's refreshing to see people with some decency over superficiality

[@RC1ROM30]

Denzel should definitely have had an oscar before Training Day

[@patriciapatton2531]

I think he received one for Glory.

[@94462]

How they hell did a 47 year old Denzel look 20 years younger in terms of his presence, and swagger in this movie, he was way way cooler in this movie than younger men 27 years younger than him. He just oozes charisma and presence in this movie in a way than an actor 25 years younger than him would. Truely astounding....

[@whywhy3289]

I mean to be fair there are 47 year olds that look worse than he does now at 69

[@BishopNE1]

My man...

[@selig7]

Being older isn’t a death sentence, it just means you have more experience a lot of times. A 22 year old Denzel wouldn’t have the experience to pull this off to perfection like this.

[@o-wolf]

While everyone is in awe over how young and full of vitality Denzel looked knocking 50's door down.. I had a different realisation, black actors always have to take the long route.. they're forced to pay their dues twice maybe thrice as long so when their zenith performance moment comes they're often in their mid to late forties if they ever get that chance at all, same with Maharshala Ali and Colman Domingo for example Imagine if Pacino DeNiro &DiCaprio had to wait till they're almost 50 for a role like this? The inequity creates diamond forged professionals but it's f*cking stifling nonetheless

[@tiptop6906]

Black don’t crack

[@DeadShot-pc2ir]

Who can compete wit Denzel's resume. All his movies are good and he pulls you in Everytime.

[@petersarubbi]

Your third movie ever helming the director's chair and you get that incredible cast... wow... Says a lot about Antoine and his skill too...💪😀💙

[@thegunslinger1363]

"You either die a hero. Or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." I believe Alonzo started out wanting to make a difference. But, being exposed to the criminal underworld and corruption. He couldn't turn back. Denzel Washington is among my all-time favourite actors

[@milesfolley6840]

One deleted scene from the movie highlights that nuance.

[@spikespiegel5434]

@@milesfolley6840which scene ??

[@SolidSnake240]

I think there's a line of dialog that insinuates that Alonzo was a genuinely good cop at one point. Cant remember when as it's been a while

[@spikespiegel5434]

@@SolidSnake240 oh cool.. ya I need to watch the deleted scenes at some point

[@bigshorty4855]

That's kinda bs, since the guy he's based upon, Rafael Perez was dirty from the start and a pirate iirc. Worked for death row as well.

[@MassiveCatLittleLegs]

Reading scripts gave me a whole new appreciation of the work that actors do; you read the line on paper, and it sounds completely different in your head to the delivered line on screen. The original One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest script is an absolute shocker. If it were any more on the nose it'd be a pair of sunglasses. I don't know how many re-writes it went through, or if the finished film were a product of on-set re-writes and/or improv between the actors and Forman.

[@fitforfreelance]

People who work with Denzel and know the script gotta have a WHOLE different appreciation of his talent. Thanks for this exclusive breakdown!

[@jstewlly4747]

Alonzo character has to be studied in film school Denzel killed the role it's iconic like Hannibal(SotL) Monster(Aileen) Annie(Misery) Joker(DK) Taxi driver Another great movie of Denzels is Flight such a good story about addiction and redemption

[@sandosam807]

Absolutely. Also I believe Phoenix's version of Joker is as good as the dark knight version. The two characters are the same but different. They're different for the reasons why they do the evil acts

[@Devil-Made]

All this just reinforces in my mind how difficult it is to write screenplays. It’s not as simple as writing the movie you see in your head, because every script reader will tell you they don’t want to see that. But writing it in a way that simply “gets the job done” can feel like you’re doing a massive disservice to the story. At this point I think there’s no such thing as good screenwriters; there are just the lucky few scripts that get matched with the perfect person to be reading it. It goes so far beyond skill that it sits comfortably in the realm of luck, or even fate. There are probably tons of amazing movies we never got because the script wasn’t read by the right person at the right time. It’s a little disheartening, and possibly cynical, but it kind of explains why nepotism is so widespread in Hollywood. It’s all just lightening in a bottle, so when it works they really try everything to keep it going. It’s hard to blame them.

[@YezzyYae88]

I can’t believe that last monologue was improvised omggg dammmn Denzel Washington! I can watch “Training Day” over & over again! I seen it over 30x just to get to that point in the movie & be like *chef’s kiss* Alonzo Harris was a hella character!

[@code.islife493]

Hearing you say "aww you mother frs" just made my week 😂😂😂.

[@Sui_Generis0]

The line at 7:27 is "all that jelly and no toast"

[@JustanObservation]

Fair enough

[@Devil-Made]

@@JustanObservation😂

[@daboxingscholar]

😂😂😂 I was literally about to type this

[@GhostOfSparta632]

what does it mean? lol

[@throwaway9573]

​@@GhostOfSparta632Bruh are you serious? He's complimenting her on her curvaceous figure.

[@sodalis]

Crimson Tide has two of the greatest actors America has ever produced taking turns dominating the screen.

[@dirtycordoba6713]

One of my favorite movies

[@dojoge]

Definitely in my top 10

[@coollibra3644]

Yes, thats some of the best acting Ive seen. They was not trying to let the other win the scene.

[@ajtaylor8750]

One of the greatest villain performances of all-time, and Denzel's finest hour as an actor. The only role that rivals this is Malcolm X. The final monologue from Alonzo Harris in the film never ceases to be great.

[@devanman7920]

I'd say he's better here. It'd become a culture thing (and a meme) to act like Denzel in this film.

[@joewas2225]

Wrong. His performance in Man on Fire makes both seem like garbage in comparison.

[@J-Hue]

I thought his performance in Flight was up there as well.

[@the5-starreview871]

"King Kong ain't got shit on me!" was improvised?! Unbelievable yet believable. Great piece my friend

[@devanman7920]

It's such a perfect actor/role you can see it follow Denzel for all his career now. "Presence" is exactly what he has.

[@williammoore1980]

Denzel is a master chef taking an already very good recipe and adding touches to make it truly great.

[@devanman7920]

Brilliant his additions to the script.

[@selig7]

I thought he was an actor 😳

[@devanman7920]

@@selig7 nope he a great cook also

[@selig7]

@@devanman7920 What can’t the man do? 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@williammoore1980]

@@selig7 He’s got dad jokes. Well played sir.

[@playbak]

Man on Fire is chronically underrated, and is one of my all time favorites.

[@MeisterSpade]

Man on Fire is fucking brilliant. When he's drowning himself in alcohol to the point of attempting suicide and the round in his handgun doesn't go off, and he decides to reform himself afterwards. God damn.

[@OmnipotentSpud]

I honestly wonder how Denzel felt about this being his first Oscar win. He played a hero for years, almost like he was just writing a resume for this role.

[@arshads.alnidaui1878]

Add to this the scene where he shoots the guns so nonchalantly and borderline enjoying it while everyone and everything is so chaotic while he’s just strolling around.

[@increase9896]

"...yea mothafuckers..."

[@Alex-hm7nt]

Its when he looks back at Eva Mendes and she pulls herself and her son away and you see his reaction briefly (that cut him really deep and signaled even more that he was done)

[@machenga]

2:45 It took me 20+ years and watching this clip to realize Alonso’s famous “King Kong” line is foreshadowed in this scene when Alonso bangs his guns together and did it in a way that is almost like a gorilla beating its chest. Denzel is a genius

[@halraza2760]

Great video! As always! Just found this channel a few days ago and this is some real content for everyone who loves movies and series. Greets from Germany.

[@Devil-Made]

Yeah man, I remember when I first found this channel. I was riding high on Succession and eager to eat up whatever I could on the show. This channel delivered! I was SO happy with the Succession content that I decided to watch Barry next - because it’s also a show carefully examined in multiple videos on this channel. And wouldn’t you know it? Another banger of a series to make me rethink my “all-time favorites” list. This channel is simply astounding.

[@juniorp726]

This is one of the most dirty and greatest performance of all time

[@SamRiesgo]

Dude, what a video!

[@safetybuddy]

One in 7.4 Billion a true master of his craft and his life!!!

[@RoyalCam9]

Besides Denzel’s phenomenal acting in Training Day as Alonzo, what also is iconic is that haircut (fade) he had🔥❗️ Super clean! 💈

[@theprolificnetwork4670]

Besides SNIPES, he should have played SHAFT, not Samuel L Jackson.

[@michaels.8244]

We all knew this movie was great and we all loved it. But with just the break down of the diner scene, we’re able to experience Denzel greatness in action. Great job ! Very much appreciated 🫡🙌🏽🤙🏽

[@nathangrund7216]

Denzel is an acting God. Training Day was unforgettable.

[@papafituae]

probably one of my favorite films ever

[@michlo3393]

"Ever kill a man Hoyt? It ain't like stepping on ants." That's my favorite line of that almost final scene. I don't know why, but it is.

[@TonyMorris]

Excellent insight and analysis.

[@theorderofthebees7308]

love this channel love your observation - it’s important for Directors to give room to actors so their craft can be expressed

[@tedtawk2783]

Great video as always

[@kosmique]

pretty much explained why this is one of my favorite characters in movies. he was just so super original.

[@LittleTimmyO]

Such a great performance. And also amazing how Antoine Fuqua and David Ayer gave him the freedom to try that. Many studios, writers, and directors would not.

[@andrasszabo1570]

Fuqua and Ayer were nobodies, while Denzel was a superstar. Hard to say "they gave him the freedom" with a power imbalance the other way.

[@ChrisG-l2l]

Denzel did a great job. Great video analysis 💯

[@berrytonejones11]

Excellent breakdown of a classic 👍🏾👍🏾

[@rk9atx]

Now I know what movie I will watch tonight

[@notchback93]

“All that jelly and no toast “

[@duncankeary6767]

I think this is one of the reasons the Movie is so good. It truly feels like real life interactions at times. One of my favourite movies of all time 👑

[@louiethexiii1]

My first time on this channel…. Excellent video.. def subscribed

[@frankbarron1907]

I didn’t know any of this. Takes what I already thought was a great performance and puts it on another level. One of the greatest living American actors.

[@hellboy.ww_]

Never stop making videos

[@MrTheBritishness]

Great video! Loved this

[@omega8Black]

This one video made me subscribe. Keep up the great work 🔥🔥

[@MechMike-gx1xt]

This film still has one of the tightest and best written scripts. All of the loose ends are tied.

[@KartoonManagement]

“Pay the bill” forever hilarious! 😂😂😂

[@quatriememur]

Very good job, excellent analysis!

[@LIONKING-pl5yr]

Extraordinary performance

[@Kryxx07]

Great video. I didn't know Denzel improvized so much in the movie. That's awesome.

[@continuity2512]

He's literally the best actor. Period

[@VividManify]

My fave movie. He murdered that

[@mrgwclipz]

I could watch videos like this all day.

[@Jath2112]

This was very eye opening for me...

[@carbo73]

it's a masterful class in acting. Alonzo feels so real, so despicable real, cunning and evil. A thrully deserved Oscar.

[@JohnMcAferty]

Absolute masterpiece!!! Denzel is a true "one-of-a-kind" 8:20am

[@KOHUNIT]

If a flight has Training Day on their entertainment center I know it’s going to be a great flight. It will never get old

[@henrybenjamin9841]

“All that jelly and no toast” my brother

[@frostywarrior4649]

Denzel has the power of a comedian in a comedy movie... How are you gonna tell Denzel something don't work because it's not in the script???

[@anankuek4650]

Great video 🔥👍👍🔥👍🔥👍

[@MrWarrenRB]

One of the greatest actors and movies of all time

[@D00M3R_MAVS]

"I'm always getting lurrrrve, from the hommies" I'll never forget that line, neither (although by a different actor) thing is, most people know that actor as Tuco, from Breaking Bad. I will always remember him for that line in Training Day.

[@BeatBoySupreme]

Brilliant commentary

[@heruking4391]

Denzel Washington is the greatest actor of all time.

[@davef6256]

AS amazing as this performance was...as richly deserved as the academy award was...This should have been his second academy award, not his first. His Malcolm X being passed over for the risible Scent of a Woman was an injustice to art, cinema categorically, and Mr. Washington specifically.

[@bigshorty4855]

True, sense of a woman was garbage and not even that good of a Pacino role. Pacino should have had more as well. Guess they both got fucked.

[@dmoriasi]

Back in the day this movie used to show on showtime everyday at a certain time and I would watch it everyday.

[@Black_Jesus3005]

Denzel Washington the best actor ever!

[@jonasosa5126]

One of the most believable acting of all time

[@JB-cr9xc]

I don’t read scripts; scripts read me.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Exemplary actors always do their best to provide the most genuine performances they can offer. In many cases, the script is the script (such as with the COEN BROTHERS), and you don't fuggg with it. As in not at all. But in OTHER cases... if you pair up the right actor with the right director, basis script, supporting cast, story, and character... yer gonna get GOLD. :) Denzel as "Alonzo" was unhinged, brilliant, poetic, disturbing, and also entertaining. But make no mistake: that is Denzel's CRAFT and EXPERIENCE creeping through the cracks. You don't do this if you haven't done the real work for several decades.

[@SenseiBlue]

💯 to all this. Don’t forget the scene where Denzel stops his car in the middle of the road and coerces Jake to finish smoking the reefer, gassing him up with the best chuckle and laugh on screen. All Denzel😄

[@jessiejamesferruolo]

Denzel Washington is by far my favorite actor. He just always so cool 😆

[@AhtoNajeebRashied]

Yo. This channel. Liked. Subscribed. Notifications on. You da man brutha

[@oscarlara124]

when a director lets an actor act, magic happens

[@dmill9020]

With Heath Ledgers joker being best performance of all time. To me. This is in the category right below for me. Absolutely amazing.

[@weedsville6318]

How could you forget Denzel Washington playing Dudley in the preachers wife ?literally an angel😂😂

[@elgueromeromero4277]

Absolute masterclass of acting

[@macethorns1168]

Not to detract from Washington's amazing performance *at all*, but the most believable and terrifying scene for me was with the Mexicans...I know the feeling of being in a situation WAY beyond your control and not knowing if you're going to walk away. "I always get love from the homies"

[@joaquintamayo3126]

I was watching this movie for the first time this year I’m fr obsess with this movie

[@Winterheart87]

A classic, love that movie 🎥🍿

[@moon12349100]

"thats not a wolf, thats a rooster"

[@Joseleocol]

Taking a really good script and then decide to improvised so masterfully around it, knowing that a young Antoine Fuqua wasn’t going to stop him; is the most Alonso move ever. He was playing character even outside the character

[@ejeckk]

Excellent analysis. Sub. Oh, and that 'confident stride' you describe, it's called 'pimping'. Other places in the US may have a different name for it, but in the DMV, we call it 'pimping'.