The
director, and writer, David Ayer, compares his movie to watching
YouTube. The setup is a cop who is taking a film class and makes a
continuous video film on the job that does make for hard viewing as you
are seeing what is happening from the camera’s point of view.
Fortunately that aspect of the film is forgotten for about half the
film.

“End
of Watch” is primarily a movie of what goes on behind the scenes with
two policemen who are partners. Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Zavala
(Michael Pena) know each better and more than anyone else including
their families. They are honest and believe their job is to protect and
serve and though not going 100% by the book they will not bend it often
to be be doing wrong. This is one of Gyllenhaal’s best performances in a
while and Pena keeps up to him in each scene.

The
supporting cast is exceptionally strong with Natalie Martinez as Pena’s
wife, Anna Kendrick as Gyllenhaal’s girlfriend, America Ferrera, Cody
Horn as tough policewomen and fellow officers David Harbour and Frank
Grillo.  The villains, both male and female, are a very strong cartel of
gangsters too impressive on screen to the point that you wouldn’t want
to meet them anywhere!

Ayer’s
story goes a little too far sometimes but there are points that will
make you jump out of your seats. His video camera viewpoint doesn’t add
to the film and at some points takes away from it. As a director he has
2-3 ‘Hollywood’ moments that you know police wouldn’t do but he keeps
the film moving and as a screenwriter he has you leaving the theatre
smiling and with a tear in your eye.

“End
of Watch” gives you an inside look at policemen who aren’t on the take
but two who take pride in their job and the people they are taking care
of on their beat. It is violent, has harsh language and a couple of very
disturbing scenes and certainly worth seeing.