Big Screen Blurb: End of Watch

Looking for a combination of depressing, disturbing with plenty of action, interesting characters and a dash of funny? Your search has ended with End of Watch. It's a movie that effectively touches on many emotions, makes you think and makes you wonder.

Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an ambitious guy. He's in school in the midst of his day job, which is that of an officer of the LAPD. He's gutty, gritty, fun-loving and best described as a realistic idealist. His partner in law enforcement is Mike Zavala (Michael Pena). To Mike, it's more or less just a job. He's just trying to get through, what can be in South LA, a dangerous day. They're both young guys, the former dating 'the one' (Anna Kendrick) and the latter looking to start a family with his wife Gabby (Natalie Martinez). However, their no non-sense approach to law has gotten them in trouble. They "uncovered" (--mostly by accident) enough to put them on a target list of a Mexican drug cartel. We follow the story from point-to-point as the boys in blue make their mark and get the mark put on them in return. Yadayadayada...we watch the chases, fights and bullets as good squares off against Big Evil.

It's good. I'll go with 4.0 Stars on this one. Let me start with the negative. It's shot completely within the hand-held camera approach, which as you may know, I'm not a big fan. Actually, there were some scenes that made me want to reverse my Jalepeno Poppers, King Size Reese's and Mr. Pibb. I understand the desire to take a realistic approach. I also understand the desire to actually enjoy a flick and the ole hand-held camera puts a distinct damper on that for me.

Aside from that, End of Watch is a movie that's going to spark emotion. It's going to bring you into a very realistic and dangerous world of a LA cop. Word of warning: It's not pretty. We follow this pair through basically nine months of duty. Honestly, it's pretty disturbing. Don't get me wrong, I realize that this is not a typical, 'day-in-the-life' piece. It's a movie; but there are strong elements of realism that draw you to the characters and their developing story. Pena and Gyllenhaal are great. These were a couple of strong performances that allow the audience to share in their brother-like friendship, while experiencing the ups and downs of a couple of beat cops. You certainly develop a quick and very strong respect for what they go through on a daily basis. Again, that's kudos to Pena and Gyllenhaal.

The story is--and this isn't a necessarily a negative--is one that forces some pretty disturbing, and subsequently depressing, realities on you. That violence is presented in a very real way. I'm not a big fan of violence, but End of Watch presents those realities in a way that forces one to think.

The bottom line: this is probably a movie to see and see BIG. Anything that stirs this type of emotion, is worth a watch--even if it's painful to watch in the moment. You will make it through and, on the other side, you'll probably have stirred plenty of thoughts and emotions along the way.

True...OUT!