Denzel's character of Alonzo in Training Day was riveting. He was the man who knows the town and the people, thereby, for this reason, he is the biggest bully in town. While Denzel said that Alonzo was not the bad guy but a victim. I'd say that Alonzo was seduced by the power he had and he had loyalties that were twisted. And his downfall was more of his own making. And it was well done in classic Hollywood style.
"Felt obligated" to vote on a film they didn't see? That doesn't make sense to me. If I was an AMPAS(Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) voter, I'd watch every film and simply hand in my votes for the categories listed. No one influences my decision.