End of Watch

A film that switches between a POV perspective and "classic" hand-held filming, between passion / police sentiment and a distant monitoring of strange guys for whom the service is an adrenaline ride (and it significantly affects them). The action scenes are brilliant and I must admit that I haven't felt such intense tension for a long time (Elite Squad?) - the combination of personal perspective and raw digital camera works great. As well as the everyday dialogues of both protagonists full of LA dialect and mundaneness. It is worse in terms of the attempts to look into privacy, in which the POV is a bit un-conceptual and disruptive, often as if it should rather obscure quite banal phrases. At the same time, End of Watch has no trouble dropping this sentiment several times. Unfortunately, the lavage between irony and fascination is mostly felt at the end, which is heading toward big things, but in the end it repeats semi-pathetically that which even a blind person could not miss... I give it what I give it for the great Gyllenhaal, the "unresolved" motif of guilt and a few great moments (the final shoot-out, the scene with a search of the house of the "old woman"). P.S. It would be interesting to compare "filming methods" in relation to Stone's thematically related film Savages! (2012-11-05)

A film so engrossed in its own form that it’s not important whether or not it has any content. The hypermedialised style without strictly maintained continuity between shots is partly excused by the fragmented nature of the plot; however, it’s a shame that its modernism is not appropriately reflected in the impression that the film makes, which is conversely very conservative (glorification of police work, suppression of signs of latent homosexuality in favour of the traditional family model). The actions of the central duo, who have transformed their service to their country into something between a video game and a reality show, are not subjected to criticism, which would be weakened anyway by the “empathetic” acceptance of their viewpoint and the expansion of the look into their lives with the addition of the private realm. Both of them obviously suffer from problems with self-control and employ methods that are as vicious as those of the goons that they take their anger out on. I won’t deny that a few shots are pretty damn cool (Gyllenhaal doing push-ups under neon lights) and Anna Kendrick smiles delightfully (the screenwriter didn’t give her anything else to do), but as it stands, End of Watch lacks depth, concept and any aesthetic quality. 70% (2012-11-05)

Without a solid plot skeleton, but with skillful direction and tight dramaturgical grip, David Ayer serves up a few snippets from the lives of ordinary cops who don't take drugs or bribes, but enforce the law to the best of their knowledge and conscience. It’s a good change that Ayer could have managed without the POV, but thanks to well-written and even better-acted characters (Gyllenhaal and Peña are one of the most coordinated cop duos ever), it works in every moment; including the fact that the last scene is absolutely the most emotional. 4 ½. (2013-01-16)

A sincere movie about police work. Ayer doesn’t make movies otherwise than excellently. A series of various raids, crowned by the final massacre, boyish squabbling and family. Don’t expect anything more from this story. On the other hand Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña make a perfect team. Form here has undergone extensive change. POV shots bring everything closer to reality (even though as such they aren’t very realistic) and wonderfully spice up these fajitas. The cool soundtrack helps too. Full marks from me. I am a consequence. I am the unpaid bill. (2012-11-13)

At first what seems like a pure spectacle of reality, then a sinister psychological thriller in the guise of an action flick, and at last an overwhelmingly escalating drama of people doing hard work in an unbearable place. During the operations and the necessity to draw a weapon, you can truly feel every breath and drop of sweat, and thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal's sincere gaze, End of Watch will stay with me for a long time. The reason it didn't make the highest rating is precisely because of its main asset – realism. In its authentic filth, David Ayer's romp cut a little too close for me to simply see it as a "mere" spectator experience. (2014-02-14)