The Academy

THE ACADEMY is a great docu-drama with a genuine sense of realism! I thought this film was a really great find. The acting was really realistic and not pushed like most Hollywood film which really helped maintain the reality for me. Sometimes I had to remind myself it wasn't a documentary. It's really done that well. Regarding the social issues related to the police and the system that other reviewers mentioned, The Academy definitely goes there, but it's not heavy- handed or one-sided. The Academy is a must see! BRAVO!

The Academy is a great docu-drama that is unique and compelling. Well worth watching!

The Academy is a uniquely well made film. You get the sense you're watching a documentary at first, which I always find really interesting because I think you get more invested when a film starts out like that. Real, honest characters coming through. I was riveted by the intense world of police training. I have such a greater appreciation for the police academy now because I had no idea how intense it was. Kudos to the director for expertly executing such an ambitious idea. I didn't even feel like I was watching actors "act" at all. Really impressive film. Highly Recommend!!

Authentic, unflinching, documentary-like look at a young police officer recruit's arduous experience getting through boot camp. The training scenes are raw and convincing and help overcome the weaknesses of the cliched but brief domestic moments. The primary drill instructor is really good, not unlike Lou Gossett Jr in Office and a Gentleman. He gives a powerful monologue late in the film on the reason why officers need to take pride in their appearance. The Academy climaxes with a wildly improbable but tense finale. And the officer's creed is an eloquently placed coda that packs an emotional punch. The young actors who play the cadets have a nice, believable rapport. At its best the movie is a taut and compelling tribute to the men and women in blue.

An excellent depiction of police training and how grueling it is inside the academy. The story presents the character's struggles realistically and the result is a movie that really pays off. Well worth a look.