Film Review: End of Watch

Director: David Ayer

David Ayer was the acclaimed screenwriter for Training Day (review here), he steps up as the director and writer for End of Watch. He doesn't stray too far from what was successful in Training Day as we follow a pair of cops from the LAPD as they go about their daily business of policing the streets. Gyllenhaal and Pena spent 5 months following LAPD officers on 12 hour duties to understand the job better as well as the sort of people who worked for the force.

The film is presented in the found footage format as Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is documenting his work on handheld cameras alongside his partner Mike Zavala (Michael Pena). They both deal with the usual criminals and call outs that LAPD cops are expected to deal with whilst joking and chatting back and forth in the car rides in between. But after crossing a Mexican drugs cartel involved in a trafficking ring they end up in more trouble than they bargained for.

Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena)

The friendship between the two lead actors is palpable, the bravado and bantering between the pair is engaging and incredibly real. They are both conscientious young men who joke around possibly to take the edge off some of the horrors they see on a daily basis. Despite the practical jokes you can tell that both characters genuinely have a deep bond with one another and really care for one another whilst dealing the dangers of the job.

The weaknesses in the movie lie within the overall plot and the found footage style that the film is shot in, at times it's not genuine found footage as camera angles are impossible based on what you can see and the equipment the actors have. But the shaky camerawork becomes tiresome and was just an unwanted addition. The main plotline between the unsuspecting policemen and the Mexican cartel seemed like an afterthought when writing the movie which meant it was rushed and unrealistic, a real shame for a film that was stark in its realism elsewhere.

2/4 great rapport between main actors but overall plot was lacklustre