David Ayers wrote and directed "End of Watch." He also wrote the gritty cop drama "Training Day," which earned Denzel Washington an Oscar for best actor. This new film careens across the screen with all the non-stop action you expect from a serious film about police operations in South Central Los Angeles.
The incredible performances by co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña both seem worthy of Oscar nominations. They play intense cop buddies who bring authentic life to their work patrolling mean streets. Ayers uses a near documentary style with lots of hand-held camera work. He accurately portrays the intense events that make up the daily lives of the central characters.
But Ayers adds a welcome dose of great adult humor to offset the graphic reality on the screen. The fast-paced scenes are all heart-pounding and the plot unfolds with ever-increasing tension. This may be the "Saving Private Ryan" of cop movies. Compelling but gruesome, you may feel you have a ringside seat to watch the ugly dark side of our current urban battles.