You're a cop, and you've got a chance to bust the bad guys. But you might have to bend the rules to get the job done—and you've got to make that decision in the blink of an eye … or the split second it takes to pull a trigger. You've got a reputation as a cop with integrity, and you don't want to put that on the line. But if you don't do something rightnow, the bad guys might get away. Or kill you. Or both.
What will you do?
Jake Gyllenhaal as Brian Taylor
Such is the unimaginable situation that many big-city police officers find themselves in every single day—cops like Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala, the protagonists in End of Watch. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal (as Taylor) and Michael Pe—a (as Zavala), the film follows these partners as they brave the heat of South Los Angeles, doing on a daily basis—car chases, drug busts, shootouts—what cops in other cities may never do in a lifetime. They're enthusiastic about their jobs, not because they think of themselves as righteous "heroes" but mainly because they know nothing else. They're just trying to do the right thing, and that sometimes puts them in the wrong place at the wrong time—with life-or-death decisions to make in the blink of an eye.
Using a found footage approach—Taylor is shooting a documentary for a college course, and thus always has a camera with him—writer-director David Ayer uses hints of the conventional and unconventional, particularly the first-person point of view and Cops-like shots from the police car. These techniques come together to create something surprisingly fresh.
But it's more than just a notable exercise in style. It captures the tension and incredibly difficult, dangerous dilemmas our public servants face frequently—including situations that demand immediate ethical choices. Though Taylor and Zavala surely aren't perfect (sometimes their aggression and immaturity leads them to break the rules), they still prove to be noble characters with a real desire to do good. Such characters are hard to find at the movies these days, characters we can actually model and respect. We see their nobility played out throughout the story, particularly in their willingness to die for one another and their fellow man. As portrayed in an intense sequence where they don't think twice about rushing into a burning house to save a few children, it's as if these guys see their jobs as a divine calling—we even once hear the words, "God loves cops"—and this calling trumps everything else, including their own safety.
But it's more than just an action movie. It's a buddy movie too; these guys enjoy each other's company quite a bit, which makes their difficult work—and the film as a whole—beyond merely endurable. Given the amount we simply travel along with them in the squad car, Gyllenhaal and Pe—a up the ante with their natural performances. From the hilarious opening sequence, in which they introduce themselves to the camera in the locker room, it's easy to embrace these men, and the film's distinct style.
Gyllenhaal and Pe—a are amusing, drawing both laughs and sympathy as they patrol the streets, shoot the bull and emotionally vent. Ayer (writer of the Denzel Washington vehicle Training Day) puts together scene after scene of amusing dialogue, much of it highlighting the cultural differences between Taylor, a Caucasian, and Zavala, a Hispanic. For example: After Taylor jokes about Mexicans and their quincea—eras, Zavala retorts that white people only talk about drinking coffee. While it's clear that these men care about one another and have each other's backs, comic scenes like these highlight a prevalent theme in the film—the celebration of diversity, particularly how a common denominator brings people of all walks of life together.
Ayer also develops good chemistry between the leading men and their significant others—the relationships between Zavala and his wife, Gabby (Natalie Martinez), and Taylor and his girlfriend, Janet (the always pleasing Anna Kendrick). Watching these couples interact—captured especially well in a moment where Taylor and Janet sing in the car—we can't help but emphasize with the all the families and friends of cops everywhere; we can't help but set aside all our biases and notions of crime, the law and justice and simply be grateful for our safety and protection.
Zavala and Taylor are not just partners, but good friends too
Unfortunately, Ayer undercuts his film's innovative style and the delightful sense of humor with his antagonists. Whereas Taylor and Zavala represent believable people, the villains are just the opposite. The four gangsters hired to kill the cops for crossing the lines of a Mexican drug cartel are written as blatant stereotypes, and their dialogue doesn't help. The melodramatic leader, "Big Evil" (Maurice Compte), drops the f-word into every sentence. And compared with Gyllenhaal and Pe—a, the actors playing the bad guys seem like amateurs, failing to move an inch beyond their pigeonholes.
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And then there's the frustrating finale. Without spoiling it, there is a moment where End of Watch could and should end. This moment, a scene of spiritual and emotional transcendence, epitomizes the central themes—brotherhood and sacrifice—but Ayer opts to keep the camera rolling, adding an unnecessary twist that feels contrived and takes away from the main ideas.
Still, there's much to like here. Life-affirming themes are the heart and soul of End of Watch, which gives us new appreciation for the lives and work of the police and other servicemen.
Talk About It
Discussion starters
In a life-threatening scene, a cop reminds his partner that "God loves cops." What do you make of this statement? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?
What does the Bible say about governmental authority and the law? Must we always obey the law? Why or why not?e
Does End of Watch give you a new appreciation for the police and what they do? Do you often take cops and soldiers (those who risk their lives for your safety) for granted?
The central theme is friendship and brotherhood. Does the relationship between Taylor and Zavala remind you of any of your relationships? Who in your life would you be willing to die for? What should Christian brotherhood look like?
The Family Corner
For parents to consider
End of Watch is rated R for strong violence, some disturbing images, pervasive language including sexual references, and some drug use. People die throughout the film, sometimes very graphically. One horrific crime scene depicts several dead bodies that have been dismembered. Drugs, specifically marijuana and cocaine, are shown in a number of scenes. Profanity is used frequently by both the cops and criminals; the f-word is said roughly a hundred times.
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