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| End of Watch |
The two police officers Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and
Mike Zavala (Michael Pena) are at home on the streets of South Central Los
Angeles and lay a strong self-confidence to the day fearlessly they confront
the all-dominant response and cannot by its members intimidating - because in
its belief they make all the difference: between good and evil, and even
between life and death. They drag in the service also always around a small
camera with him, which they hold anything that comes in front of the lens. Well
as by their arms two suspects die, they can stop the brief. Your experienced
colleague Van Hauser (David Harbour) sees it all very skeptical and warns his young
fellow from too much mischief, but will not be heard. Taylor especially is a
macho who sticks his nose in matters that he had passed on to the detective’s
better drug Dezernats. When the two streets Cops detect a connection to a
Mexican drug cartel that wants to settle in Los Angeles, the nights in South
Central LA are still uncomfortable.
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| End of Watch |
In each thematic continuity Ayer found in his works always
new and different aspects of police work and its cinematic representation.
"End Of Watch" he now creates a pseudo-documentary - as a kind of
cop-drama version of "The Blair Witch Project" on the streets of
South Central LA look to what is happening is mostly from the perspective of
the small hand-held camera by cop Brian Taylor it outweigh rigid attitudes and
almost monochrome images. A typically found-footage films Handheld-wagging hand
holding cameras here but with a few exceptions in the limits, Ayer makes almost
always sufficient overview. Is in doubt, even more important than the purist
adherence to the formal premise: it keeps the perspective not consistent and
sometimes delivers images that cannot be from a source in the film. He also
mixed the footage of Brian and Mike with images from fixed cameras in the
police car for the two cops - and the gang members maintain a distinct passion
for home videos. Thus we see sometimes, what happens when the crooks to mess
with slopes and wrongdoing with the digicam.
Even the choice of found-footage approach indicates that
David Ayer appreciates an impression of quasi documentary realism: The
sometimes mindless policing the small street Cops is as lifelike as possible
act. But not only has the look suggested lives nearby, also in the figure
drawing is not glossed over. How it works "End Of Watch" primarily as
a precise character study of two men who do not even really likable. But that
does ultimately only fascinating, partly because Ayer the monotony that
characterizes their daily lives, not just hide. He waived (initially at least)
to dramatic escalations and taking time for the routine of work and also for
the private lives of the protagonists, who are not only colleagues, but also
best friends. A bald Jake Gyllenhaal ("Brothers," "Brokeback
Mountain") indicating the full Macho, who himself for the biggest cop
under the sun holds, while the quieter Michael Pena ("World Trade
Center"), the rough-irascible temperament of his partner balances. With
the wonderful natural Anna Kendrick ("Up in the Air") as Janet, who
falls in love with the macho Taylor, then comes even that charm in the film,
which otherwise lacks.
The stresses at the beginning undramatic, for a genre film
actually decelerated narrative David Ayer reserves did not last long in this
radical form - it almost seems like he was not quite believe his own concept on
the road. This lack of consistency last fall until the finale does not really significant,
but then goes on Ayer at once an action-packed showdown. Against such a big
bang at the end, of course, is basically nothing wrong with, but here it stands
in stark contrast to previously seen. On the home stretch of a documentary is
so-sober look at everyday police work-a grimly pointed cop action film. No
trace of summer fairy tale.
Conclusion: With the radically unspectacular, in
mockumentary style held cop drama "End of Watch" succeeds director
David Ayer a raw, unglamorous character study about the hard life and survival
of two single policeman on the streets of South Central Los Angeles: realistic,
bitter and yet also a bit cock-full.
