End of Watch 
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, AmericaFerrera, Cody Horn, Frank Grillo
Directed by David Ayer
Rated: R
Run Time: 109 mins
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Opens September 21st
By Lisa Minzey
One of the many films we watched this week included the latest film from the director of films like Training Day and Street Kings, David Ayers. End of Watch features an ensemble cast starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Natalie Martinez and Anna Kendrick.
On the streets of Los Angeles, Officers Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña) seem to see a lot of action; more than most other patrol units in the city. Much of their escapades are caught on video asTayloris going to school majoring in Pre-Law, Minoring in Film. Most of their time spent on patrol is spent catching up on their personal lives, a lot of raunchy guy humor and talking about the women in their lives. Zavala is married to his high school sweetheart Gabby (Natalie Martinez), andTaylorhas just started dating Janet (Anna Kendrick).Taylor is hoping that Janet is the one, while Z is constantly nagging him to stay single and live the dream.
Call them lucky or just having a good ear for listening for the right calls to come through, in a matter of months, Officers Taylor and Zavala have participated in a car chase resulting in a shoot out, an arrest of a gangbanger, and a “routine” traffic stop that turned up a lot of cash and some pretty gnarly weapons. Officer Taylor sensing that there was more to the traffic stop turned out to be correct when it lead them to a drop house full of illegal immigrants. That decision turned out to put a target his and Officer Zavala’s back by a extremely powerful Mexican drug cartel, currently under I.C.E. investigation.
Aside from the unknown hit put out on the two officers the cases they come across are becoming grizzlier and more horrific by the day. Will Taylor and Savala be able to help the authorities bring down the Mexican Cartel before they can get to them?
If you are looking for a well done crime drama, look no further than End of Watch. This film is a gritty, voyeuristic drama that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The pacing of the storyline is done exceptionally well, taking the viewer from action sequence, to intense gory scenes and filling the time in-between with light hearted moments to cleanse the pallet before the next call on the officers’ beat. Be sure to check it out when it hits theaters Friday September 21, 2012.
