Ah I’m sick to death of the Holiday season. Too much positivity and lovey dovey feelings if you ask me. What we really need is some hard drama, something with true grit. Ah David Ayer of Training Day fame, how are you? Nice to see you! Oh you have a new movie for us. A found footage film? Hmmm… about two cops in LA? Sold! Let’s see how End Of Watch stacks up to your previous effort.
Back from suspension for shooting two gang members in a shoot out, beat cops Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal, Love And Other Drugs) and Zavala (Michael Peña, Tower Heist) patrol some of the worst districts in the South Central region of Los Angeles. The two have a close friend and partnership having come through police academy together, which extends out of the force. The pair also have a maverick streak between them and it winds up getting them targeted by the Mexican drug cartel; who’re trying to teach the LAPD and anti drug agencies a lesson.
Gyllenhaal is placed perfectly as the nice guy overall but with a smug bastard attitude. At first glance, it looks like they’re going to put him into a tough guy role, which wouldn’t suit End Of Watch at all, but Gyllenhaal is talented enough to make Taylor a likeable and sympathetic character as a nice guy who just wants to settle down with a nice girl etc.
Peña does enough to separate himself from the many traits associated with what could have been an awfully stereotypical role as latino Zavala. There’s enough to embrace a latin in LA character without being insulting. Sure he loves La Familia and so on but Peña’s performance builds on another likeable guy doing his job and it’s not a surprise he seems rather comfortable in his situation after a similar role in The Shield.
There really isn’t much to talk about in regards to the rest of the cast. They’re there and no one is bad. It’s just the main focus of the film is meant to be on Taylor and Zavala’s characters and the bond the pair have. Anna Kendrick (What To Expect When You’re Expecting) is Taylor’s cute love interest and we see their relationship grow to fulfil his requirement of a life partner. David Harbour (Quantum Of Solace) is memorable as the tough mature cop whose seen it all as a reflection to the duo and comic relief.
In fact, the bond the two have really sells End Of Watch to the point where you almost feel you don’t need any more characters. From the sex stories they swap on patrol to kill time and keep each other amused, to the constant checking on each other after a shootout, you feel the love and bond between the two policemen. The amount of ridiculous but brutally true situations they end up facing is grounded by the duo’s chemistry; which Gyllenhaal and Peña deserve credit for, even if Peña comes across as a bit sidekicky at times.
The police procedural is actually done really well too, outside of our two heroes. Not a surprise given Ayer’s track record of these gritty cop films set on the west coast. The tactics and movements are realistic and shows off how much research has gone into this. It’s also a bit of a learning experience – I didn’t realise street level cops signalled to support helicopters from the crowd to say they’re fine with a crime and to move on to who needs help next. The opening monologue from Taylor over a high speed chase through dirty alleys in South Central is especially chilling and sets the tone for the police believe in this film.
Having watched The Shield, End Of Watch reminded me a lot of the LA gang culture represented in that TV show… perhaps more than intended. There’s a few visual cues taken with respectful African American gang bosses giving information to the duo over their impending assault from the south. The Mexican/latino factions come across as rather crappy in their quest to do anything for money and power. As far as the envelope is pushed, it’s not anything new, and to be fair we’ve seen it all before.
The violence is less than subtle, but this isn’t a bad thing; from the hardcore gang execution scenes that’re almost akin to Murphy’s death in Robocop (if Robocop was a serious film and all that), to the gruesome results of a female police officer having her face beaten in by a guy three times her size; it represents how bad the conditions are which the LAPD face daily. Tough to watch in places, but at the right level of grit to not be excessive, the highlight is when you see a cop with a knife wedged into his eye, afraid to move because it may further penetrate into his head. Emphasises the situation we’re dealing with a viewer for this film.
Ayer can make a nice looking film and Watch is no different. The quality of the camera is unreal at times and surpasses most of the big release that have been and gone this year. It’s what everyone wants – crisp, clear focus all round. From the police car front mounted camera to the handheld camera Taylor carries outside as they rush out of a drugs den (with the lens pointing into the clear blue sky), it’s sharp and lovely to look at. A whole lot of polish in the direction gives Ayer another impressive listing in his filmography.
Though as neat as it is, the camera style took me out of the film in places; it’s meant to be presented in this faux documentary/found footage style and goes for the realistic vibe. Fine, nothing wrong with that, but there are more than one or two shots and camera angles which wouldn’t be possible unless someone else is there. It somes across as slapdash, trying to say it’s one thing then failing to deliver in the next cut.
And why does everyone seem to have video cameras? Even one of the Mexican cartel gangs have one. Surely it would a great idea to not use in case they get captured and the rest of their group get arrested etc. after what they find on tape? Same can be said for Taylor. He’s the only one to have a valid excuse saying he’s taking a class, yet he keeps getting reprimanded constantly for filming around the police station and on patrol but nothing ever comes of it.
End Of Watch is a very good cop movie and the best we’ve seen in awhile. But it goes for an innovative style which doesn’t quite come off as good as it thinks and takes you away from a brilliant pair performance between Gyllenhaal and Peña. Still, the rough representation of the LA gang culture and police force to see an almost pointless war through with appropriate levels of grim and violent scenes makes this a high recommendation indeed. Another terrific outing from David Ayer.
Terry Lewis – @thatterrylewis.
