End of Watch (2012)

   End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhal, Michael Pena, and Anna Kendrick. Directed by David Ayer. Takes place in the down and dirty, gang ridden streets of Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhal plays officer Brian Taylor who decides to record on an HD handheld and clip-on body camera all that he encounters throughout his daily job with his officer partner Mike Zavala played by Michael J. Pena. This movie shows the dangerous reality of being a cop, although if I were to ask a real cop about this movie he would most likely differ. This movie captures the rivalry of mexican and african american gangs throughout the city often showing uncomfortable scenes of an eyewitness video camera point on what they were going to do before killing someone. Officer Brian and Mike encounter a mexican cartel member unexpectedly and decide to track down the whereabouts of this cartel. They come to a realization how twisted these people can be by observing the aftermath of grizzly murders and come across a gang members house that involved a graphic scene showing the atrocious reality of trafficking illegal immigrants. As they further tug on the string the cartel members bite back at these two cops personally and it is up to them if they want to live or die.  

 Overall this movie was like a punch of emotional adrenaline to the heart. The atmosphere of this movie is so real that it made me feel a bit uncomfortable at times yet it had a really human side by showing what these characters were like which were just normal everyday people with friends and family throughout the community. It was interesting observing the relationship between the two leads, they certainly had a chemistry that very few actors in movies can achieve together. I don't even know if this is considered a movie because it feels very much like reality, showing both the happiness and pain we share with each other. There was also a love scene between Anna Kendrick and Jake Gyllenhal that featured the song "Fade into you" by Mazzy Star which was so passionate and took me to another world for a second because my recognition of the song makes me think of happier times. Its nice to hear a song in a movie that credits your sense of taste in music.  Although this movie was seemingly realistic, it seemed like at times it stretched the truth. For example each and every day it seemed they were going out to die like an action movie which I doubt is like reality (mall cops for example.). Also there were shooting scenes that seemed a tad too hollywood to me. Overall this was a very emotional with few flaws and gets a final grade of B+.