Set to release this weekend is David Ayer’s gritty, semi-POV L.A. crime drama End of Watch. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as Brian and Miguel, two L.A. officers who happen upon a human trafficking house controlled by a Mexican drug cartel and are soon targeted for hits after accidentally disrupting the cartel’s business one too many times.
From the get-go, what separates End of Watch from so many other cop films is that one, the movie is partially shot in a documentary style, and two, that the cops actually aren’t real assholes and don’t take advantage of their position of power to exploit people. The result feels like an honest depiction of everyday cops caught up in unusual and unfortunate circumstances that are bound to have drastic effects on their lives. If you add in the fact that both characters are very likable then you know you’ve got yourself a movie that you’ll not only find entertaining but possibly get emotional over.
I felt like End of Watch was the complete package. The movie had good character development, a solid story, a nice balance of humor, emotion and action, a unique look and most things made sense. Its strongest suit though was the acting and characters. Jake Gyllenhaal was charismatic, transparent and emotionally open. While he was great for the entire film, I was partial to Peña and his character Miguel. He provided so much comedic relief and delivered his dialogue with a humorous attitude that I could never question the casting decision to include him. I’m also slightly biased towards him ever since I saw him in 30 Minutes or Less where he played a hilarious gangster. I’ve been eager to see where else he would get the opportunity to shine and, in End of Watch, he most certainly does.
For me, the weirdest part of the movie was watching actual stars participate in a POV/found footage type film. Granted there were shots that weren’t taken from Brian’s cameras, which was a nice escape from the shaky camera style, but it still felt odd to see recognizable faces in roles where footage was being “documented.” Using this style created a very unique aesthetic, allowing for some awesome first person shots, especially during car chases and raids. At the same time, the first person perspective was also an issue for the film since it all didn’t feel plausible, particularly when POV shots extended to the drug cartels. I mean, ser
iously, what are the odds that the cops and the gangsters are both taking video of their exploits and then when it all comes together the documentary style ceases to exist?
Besides having a story about cops who actually stay true to the principles of the job and don’t take advantage of the system, one of my other favorite parts of the film was the score and soundtrack, mostly the soundtrack. There was quite a mix of songs and genres but the hip hop that was featured sporadically throughout the film was not only good to listen to, but it set the tone for the film and the type of environment we were dealing with, the hard streets of L.A.
Overall, I really enjoyed End of Watch. It’s a cool cop drama/thriller that will likely surprise the movie going audience and end of being better than what they initially thought it would have been. Thanks do a cool chase sequences, hardcore gangsters, a lot of ridiculous laughs and a touch of emotion, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a great R-rated crowd pleaser. Oh, there’s also a golden AK-47 which is pretty badass, especially if you are an avid Call of Duty player.
Rating: A cool, gritty L.A. cop drama (7/10)
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