End of Watch

Director: David Ayer (Training Day, Street Kings)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Frank Grillo
Certificate: 15
Run-time: 109 minutes

IN SHORT: End of Watch is brutal, graphically and emotionally. Gyllenhaal and Pena are fantastically endearing, the film is worth seeing for their chemistry alone.

2012 has been all about superhero movies. In a year that the Mayans predict the world's demise, it's reassuring to watch costume-wearing good guys defeat evil and save the day. But what about the everyday superhero's of this world? End of Watch tackles the dangerous life of heroes on the street; officers in the LAPD. From house-fires and disorderly drunks to Mexican crime-lords and drug busts, no day is the same for these brave law-men.

End of Watch is written and directed by David Ayer. Ayer has made his career portraying the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles with writer's credits for Training Day and Harsh Times standing out on his resume. With his fourth directed film, Ayer chooses to tell the story of Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Mike 'Z' Zavala (Pena). Taylor and Zavala are unconventional, perhaps reckless, cops who find themselves on the Mexican cartel's hit-list after their bust of a gang-bangers house reveals a human-trafficking ring.

Gyllenhaal and Pena claim the unofficial 'bromance of the year' award.

The film utilises a documentary style with large segments of the movie shot inside the police car as Taylor and Zavala engage in witty banter and seedy small-talk to pass the time. Brian is filming their antics as part of his part-time college course, using a Sony Minicam and hidden cameras underneath their shirt pockets. To be honest, I didn't particularly care for the gimmicky way it was filmed. Sometimes the director switches to a wide or a birds-eye view shot of the action which was distracting. If you're going to go down the found footage/documentary route, you have to commit to it fully, in my opinion.  

It wasn't the realistic filmic style that emotionally invested me but the performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena. Their characters are multi-dimensional and human. Outside of work they are caring husbands, loving fathers and intelligent young men with hopes and aspirations.  As Brian declares in an opening monologue, "Behind my badge is a heart like yours. I bleed, I think, I love, and yes I can be killed." And when the two are given a highly-coveted Medal of Valor for saving three young children from a burning fire, Taylor asks, "do you feel like a hero?" to which Zavala replies, "no". For these two men, this is a day job, nothing more.

Some people have criticised End of Watch for glamourising the LAPD. I would have to respectfully disagree with their assessment. David Ayer's strong script emphasises how mundane the job can be at times. We watch Taylor and Zavala deal with the less glamorous parts of police-work such as paper-work and issuing tickets. But in a crime-ridden city like LA, danger is only a call away. One unsettling scene see's the two respond to an emergency call from a desperate colleague. When they get to the scene, one of the officers is down with a switch-blade stuck in his eye and his female partner is left unconscious on the ground, her face beaten to a purple pulp.

The climax of End of Watch see's Taylor and Zavala square up to the Mexican cartel.

Aside from weapons and drug laundering, the Cartel are trafficking Mexican immigrants, an insanely profitable business, which is under threat by Taylor and Zavala's constant snooping around. Led by a man named, 'Big Evil', the Mexican cartel that are out for Taylor and Zavala's blood don't fuck around. In an introductory scene we watch as the group take fire on a rival African-American gang, laughing and cheering as they drive away from the wreckage and screaming. End of Watch portrays violence in a brutally blunt fashion. If you can't handle graphic violence, give it a pass because it's not for the faint-hearted.

In summary, End of Watch is a fantastic crime film with a crushing final act. Although the plot doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, the performances from the cast are intense and highly engrossing. The cast are terrific; Frank Grillo, America Ferrera and David Harbour are all convincing as law enforcers. Plus, I haven't even mentioned Anna Kendrick, who's adorable as ever! If you're visiting the cinema this week and you've already seen Skyfall, I'd highly recommend End of Watch.