End of Watch review

End of Watch is this generation's Colors. But moreover, it adds fuel to the fire by being something more of a Lethal Weapon buddy comedy with the serious overtones that made Colors a classic gritty, urban melodrama showing life on the streets from behind and in front of a badge. 

That being said, I'd like to take a quick side-note and talk about the "found footage" element behind this movie and all movies in general. First off, it should be noted that End of Watch does not maintain the constant found footage staples. The movie uses the idea generously but it's clear the filmmakers didn't want to be beholden to the limited types of camera angles and viewpoints - so it strays a lot. Especially by the last reel, the movie develops a more classic approach almost entirely abandoning the found footage technique. In a sense, it can't be labeled under the genre. So the question becomes, why do it in the first place? If I loved the technique this is the part of the review where I criticize the sloppiness and/or laziness of the director. However, I loathe the technique. I think it's a done deal and while it had it's time and maybe still can have it's uses in the future, most films do not fit into this style and don't need to. Not to long ago, I covered this ground with Chronicle. Certain movies can benefit from found footage, most can't. More often than not it diminishes the film overall, taking a movie that could easily score an A or B down a few notches. 

It's a bummer but it's a reality, End of Watch would be a better film without the gimmick. 

Still that's about all the negativity I can pound out on the movie. The story is simple but tight with interesting characters and good performances. Stories can generally be broken down between either being plot-driven or character-driven. This is absolutely a character-driven story that takes us into a world few of us are ever exposed to. But just so you know, the basic plot revolves around two LAPD Officers that are more like brothers than partners. They're sort of the current rock stars of the city and consistently make big busts. The problems come along when they flare up on the radar of the Mexican drug cartel and are very quickly targeted for execution. While it's not very realistic (the chances of two beat cops coming under the cartel's purview and then being worth enough heat for them to put a hit on are nil to none), the plot serves as both interesting and adrenaline-fueled.

What really makes this movie fun, worth watching, and believable are the performances turned out by Michael Pena and Jake Gyllenhaal. They have a naturalistic camaraderie that is always welcome in these types of movies and is interesting and fun to watch. You believe these guys are friends and would want to have a beer with them. Personally, I can very much relate to the bromance relationship these guys have and I think it's truly a rare thing. So it's investing to watch their lives intertwine as the drama heightens and the tension winds itself around the brutality and evil that is slowly encircling them as the climax drives itself to it's obvious conclusion. The ending is pretty riveting and traumatic. It's not glossy or pretty and strives to be something close to real.

I remember after Shooter came out everyone couldn't hype up Michael Pena more. Personally I felt he was overrated and nothing special. But he keeps hitting it, and with this performance, I feel he's transcended the hype and proven himself to me. Not that he ever had to or cared to. Ha.


7 / 10