End of Watch (2012)
Certified: 18
Duration: 109 minutes
Directed by: David Ayer
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera, Cle Sloan
KRS release
Director David Ayer makes good use of the documentary/found-footage style to immerse viewers in this gritty police drama.
The portrayal of the chaotic daily lives of these cops, combined with what looks to be an insane knowledge of their work methods, give the film its realistic edge
Brian and Mike (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) are two Los Angeles police officers who are good at solving cases and getting the bad guys. However, they do this by breaking quite a few rules and by placing themselves in danger. They have the support of their unit leader Sarge (Frank Grillo) but they are warned that if push comes to shove and they end up in trouble, the department will not be willing to back them up. This does not deter Brian and Mike and they go about their way of dispensing justice.
Off duty Brian has just kicked off a relationship with Janet (Anna Kendrick) while Mike’s wife Gabbie (Natalie Martinez) is expecting a baby.
The duo are facing it off with gang toughies like La La (Yahira Garcia) and Big Evil (Maurice Compte). When they come face to face with drug activity that involves foreign drug cartels, the two cops tackle this in their usual manner. The consequences, however, are much worse than they expected.
The first remarkable thing about this film is how much of it maintains its level of intensity as it tackles staples of the genre. The portrayal of the chaotic daily lives of these cops, combined with what looks to be an insane knowledge of their work methods, give the film its realistic edge.
The teaming up of Gyllenhaal and Peña looks authentic. The two deliver very good performances, making the sometimes erratic viewing experience of the found-footage genre palatable. It is through their performances that you get to experience in a vivid manner the shocking life of an LAPD office and the heaps of abuse and ignorance that is thrown their way. The two actors are complemented by Kendrick and Martinez, who give their characters an added dimension.
The bad guys seem to be everywhere and the cops have no one to trust, not even their own buddies.
The drug cartel and the crooks are menacing but it is the everyday troubles that are even scarier: missing children reports, a house on fire, human trafficking, and the routine domestic troubles call.
End of Watch is a compelling walk on the wild side, which as portrayed in the film, is nothing more than a daily routine for LAPD policemen.