Director: David Ayer
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick
Running Time: 109 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Audio Commentary with Writer/Director David Ayer, Deleted Scenes, Alternative Ending (Rough Cut), Featurettes, Interviews with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, BAFTA Q&A with Michael Peña and John Lesher.
Authentic, and full of integrity and respect are words that welcomed END OF WATCH’s theatrical release. But is it any good?
Introduced to Taylor (Gyllenhaal), whose penchant for camcorders help supply many of the movies shots, and ‘Z’ (Pena), we join them patrolling the LA streets; breaking up gangs, shooting folk and being cocky. All in a days work you might say, but herein lies END OF WATCH’s problem. The authenticity, integrity and respect shown to the LAPD mean this is gritty, dirty film-making, but it’s also full of stereotypes: the brotherly camaraderie between the leads, the uptight pro (Van Houser) and nervous Sarge amongst others.
Whilst the relationship between Taylor and ‘Z’ is heartwarming and pleasing to view it makes the mind wander towards the conclusion, and being a buddy-cop movie there are few possible endings. The antagonists are out in force, wisely kept at arms length for much of the film, and suitably repugnant and gun-happy. Which leads to another issue as END OF WATCH treads no new ground, it walks right up to LETHAL WEAPON’s sequels and shakes their hands. Sure, there is worse company but from the maker of TRAINING DAY you could be forgiven for expecting, and wanting more.
Whilst there are issues there is much to enjoy: Ayer’s direction aids the authenticity, the soundtrack has some great tunes, and the acting is tremendous from almost the whole cast – a few baddies over egg the pudding in their excitement, but they can be forgiven. The film is also beautifully paced for the first act, introducing us to the main players and their day-to-day lives. The second act sadly offers too much padding and becomes mildly tiresome, particularly as the pair complete their rounds stumbling into crime scenes by mistake and unearthing major crimes. As finality the third act plays it safe, and because of this feels lacking. The emotional connection prevalent early on is lost almost entirely, and as a result you may not give a damn.
Strong in places, but horribly lacking in others END OF WATCH, despite Gyllenhaal and Pena’s efforts, is unable to live up to its early promise. Back to the Academy for you.
Extras: A good package in all with interesting interviews, some decent deleted scenes and an alternative ending, with Ayers commentary being very informed.
END OF WATCH is released on Blu-ray and DVD 18th March.
Craig Hunter
Mar 17, 2013 at 9:02 am
It’s a cracking film but the found footage aspect wasn’t needed and could have been executed just a well without it.