End of Watch

[MadVillainy]

There might be a thread on it, but my search didn't find one.

I just watched it. Great movie. The acting/chemistry between Pena and Gyllenhaal was some of the best I've seen all year. The chemistry probably was the best I've see in a few years actually.

If you havent seen it, I highly recommend it. Especially if you like cop movies/crime films.

 

[gwynplaine]

Looking forward to seeing this one. I only heard great things about it.

 

[CrypticOne]

I thought there was a thread on this?! Movie was excellent though. Loved it. Definitely in my Top 5 for the year.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This is not really the movie described on the tin, the stuff with the cartel plays into the finale but the bulk of the film is an intimate portrayal of the life of LA uniform cops working the worst areas, this is seen through the eyes of Officers Taylor and Z, brilliantly played by Jake Gylenhaal and Michael Pena.

It charts their beat, their family life, their hopes, their brotherhood and ultimately their fate. The banter between the two is great and feels authentic and is often funny.

The films weakness is that the gangbanger characters are caricature's and say nothing but f**k over and over to the point their dialogue makes no sense. Ayer's choice to shoot in a found footage/docu style is something that will divide opinion, I found it was often effective but also erratic in the lack of clarity of when it was the two cops cameras we were seeing from, and why when it wasn't, the film still felt like a documentary.

All in all the the journey of the two leads is compelling, relateable, intense and tragic, you build up such a bond with these two characters that the brutal ending stayed with me long after the credits rolled. 8/10

 

[MadVillainy]

The finale was really well done. Full of tension too

 

[CrypticOne]

Yeah, having a best friend, and the final scenes of this really brought tears to my eyes. First time a movie has done that to me in years.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

This movie surprised me. I really did enjoy it.

 

[samsnee]

Saw this last night. Pena really should have been nominated for an Oscar.

 

[Gianakin_]

'Twas a great movie. But that's Ayer for ya.

 

[redhawk23]

I liked the movie quite a bit. However, I wish they would have just gone with a generally handheld aesthetic without feeling that it was necessary to force in that the characters themselves were the ones recording it, since that's what it essentially morphs to in the end anyways.

 

[James]

I liked the movie quite a bit. However, I wish they would have just gone with a generally handheld aesthetic without feeling that it was necessary to force in that the characters themselves were the ones recording it, since that's what it essentially morphs to in the end anyways.

I agree. I have the same problem with most 'handheld' movies because I'm constantly asking questions like; How long is the battery in this camera? How does that camera film in such high quality? How did he even get a camera in there? And numerous other logistical leaps that pull me out of the film. Chronicle was probably the worst I've seen for this.

In any case when it came to End of Watch it was a minor gripe, because I really enjoyed the movie otherwise.

 

[redhawk23]

Yeah, I mean the movie was certainly served well by the overall aesthetic, but again I don't think there was an in-story explanation needed.

 

[samsnee]

I think the best banter between Taylor and Z was when Z did the whole "And what do white people talk about? Mmmm, did you try this new flavor latte? Oh my God it's so good!"

Had me cracking up.