Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: End of Watch (2012)

What is it about? 

A documentary-style shot journey of two cops who are friends, and the encounters they come across as cops in South Central, Los Angeles, especially when they uncover a criminal force greater than they imagined. 

Who is in it? 

Jake Gyllenhaal - Brian Taylor

Michael Pena - Mike Zavala

Favorite Scene:

Any scene with Brian and Mike going back and forth in dialogue in the patrol car. 

Favorite Quote: 

Mike Zavala: My Grandmother said, "If you can live without her, then man-up and cut her off. Don't string her along."

Review:

End of Watch is a brilliant film. It really is. Some may not agree, but it takes a lot of creativity to shoot an entire film documentary style without making it seem hard to follow and without making the scenes feel redundant. The camera angles add a certain personality to the film that makes the relationships in the movie standout, especially that of Mike and Brian.

End of Watch is all about the developing relationship of Brian and Mike that hooks you. From the simple scenes of them in the patrol car that offers a certain realism of authentic bonding to them sharing their police duties, this film offers two characters and a relationship in which anyone who views this film will invest in. And without giving away a spoiler, the ending proves it. 

Gylenhaal was phenomenal in this film. Absolutely, phenomenal. His work was highly reminiscent of Jarhead, which also was awesome stuff. Michael Pena was very funny, and of course, Anna Kendrick is in it too, which is easy on the eyes for the fellas. 

All in all, End of Watch really surprised me and was much better than I thought it would be, and I expected it to be good. However, it was better than good. Any movie that can sell dialogue and in-depth characters with a real message and moral of respect you can take away from the film earns my respect. 

Grab a DVD of this film and watch it. 

Review: 5/5

Recently Read

Was It Ever Real?

Does time change me? Or, did I evolve through experience? How many signals did I miss? Or, did I choose this fate? Do I understand the wrongs and regrets? Or, did I act with the best interest in the moment? What did they say about me? And, what will they say about me today? Was I appreciated? Or, did I imagine that? What were the opinions in the shadows? And, what were the feelings expressed before me? Is it a misunderstanding?  Or, a matter of not confirming?  Why didn’t it last? Or, was it never meant to? …ever able to? Was it ever real? Some of it? Part of it?

Pondering with Plumtree:Having Fun: Ponderings From #TNANYC 1/7 & 1/9 Tapings

Pondering with Plumtree is a column on the popular blog, TNAsylum, that is written by yours truly. The blog is focused towards being a fan site for TNA Wrestling fans where they can get news, rumors, opinions, and any and everything else, TNA Wrestling. Known as "The Haven for TNA Wrestling Fans", I'm hoping to bring some of my thoughts to an already impressive roster of columnist for as long as the site will have me. You can read the latest column here , or in the text below.

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/23/25

3 Up   1. New Old Cookbook - I thought this was really cool. The oldest published cookbook just got a remake and is now available. The cookbook, by Malinda Russell, is 160 years old. There has to be some really good (clean) stuff in that book. It's also Black History Month (are we still allowed to push that?), and there's a lot of history and significance that can be found through food.  2. Frankie Munoz - This dude went from Malcolm in the Middle and decided, I'm gonna be a race car driver! Munoz finished 10th recently in his debut as a NASCAR driver.  3. Yankees Policy - It's about time. The Yankees really were eventually going to find themselves in something MUCH uglier than a narrative surrounding "would George have done this?!" or "Why, this is the Yankee way!". Kudos to Hal Steinbrenner for the move.  3 Down 1. Another Plane Crash - This one in Toronto. A place landed on its roof. What is going on out there? Doesn't help when you read and ...