END OF WATCH
CAROLINE: End of Watch is a new cop movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, and is directed by the guy who wrote Training Day. But don’t worry; this is not a cop movie like the others you’ve seen.
RYAN: I love a good crime drama and this one has moments so suspenseful they actually reminded me of the climax of Silence of the Lambs.
CAROLINE: That is a bold statement, but I see where you’re coming from. This movie is so intense and dramatic… and so real that it’s almost hard to watch at times. Having said that, I was riveted.
RYAN: It’s very gritty and I liked the realism but seriously loathed the Blair Witch-esque shaky cam action, especially in the first half of the film.
CAROLINE: That didn’t really bother me. Basically it’s set up as if it’s shot by Jake Gyllenhaal’s character for a film project, so yes it’s very wobbly and I know some people find that disconcerting.
RYAN: It was unnecessary. Shaky verité on TV is much more controlled than this, and the size of the screen was so big that I had to look away at times fearing it would induce acid reflux.
CAROLINE: Like Ashlee Simpson on SNL?
RYAN: [laughs’ Exactly.
CAROLINE: This movie is basically a day in the life of an LAPD cop team over a period of several months. It’s incredibly realistic and therefore scary, because the beat they cover is a really dangerous neighborhood, ridden with drugs, gangs and guns. You can’t help but think that a lot of cops do what the guys did in the movie for real every day.
RYAN: Jake and Michael have such brilliant chemistry onscreen; it’s a true bromance, and you really believe their relationship. I saw this movie with my brother, which I’m glad of because there’s a real theme of brotherhood. It made for a poignant movie-going experience.
CAROLINE: They were amazing together. Jakey-poo really disappeared into this character. I didn’t at all feel like I was watching him act; he felt like the real deal, as did Michael Peña.
RYAN: I also love Anna Kendrick. She’s fast becoming one of my favorite female actors. She and Jake have a dance scene that is so cute it made me kvell.
CAROLINE: I loved their romance, as well as Michael Peña’s with his wife. This movie had me on the edge of my seat but it also has some very sweet moments. Honestly, it’s not really like many movies I’ve seen before.
RYAN: It’s artistically and narratively original for sure. Even my brother said he’d see it again, which says a lot coming from him. He’s got the attention span of a fly.
CAROLINE: It’s ultra violent though; I almost had to look away a few times. It’s not really a fun movie to watch in some ways, but it’s so good that I too would see it again. But I went into this movie not knowing much more than it was about 2 cops, and I liked that I didn’t know what happens. So let’s not give away too much.
RYAN: The script is so strong and intricate that it works on many levels, and I think the sub-plots you’re alluding to are fascinating.
— BOTTOM LINE —
CAROLINE: I really enjoyed this movie and would strongly recommend it to those who have the stomach for it. It made me laugh and cry, as well as feel incredibly tense and nervous. Like I said, it’s not the most fun movie-going experience, but it’s very worthwhile and so well acted.
RYAN: It’s really the perfect combination of script, actors, tone and length. It might not be an Oscar level movie, but it’s such strong action that it really is worth seeing on the big screen.
— RATING —