This movie will probably be remembered as one of the best urban crime films ever, mostly because of the hellish presence of Denzel Washington, the fine acting Ethan Hawke, and the ultra-gritty directing Altonie Fuqua. The film follows Hakes' character in his first day in LA's notorious Narcotics Division. There he meets Washington, a veteran of the Division, whose morals have been corrupted by years of seeing the worst of humanity, or his appetite for power, which ever you believe, but either way he seems to give justification to every action he takes ("Were wolves among sheep, it takes a wolf to kill a wolf.") But some of Washingtons' action seem to go far beyond the line, and Hawke questions his reasons for them. The movie is also given a great, challenging script in order for the actors and the audience to question the limtis of the law, and power.