End of Watch Review

End of Watch

Length: 1 hr. 49 min.
Genre: Action/ Cop Drama

Cast:
Michael Pena
Jake Gyllenhaall
Anna Kendrink
Cody Horn
America Ferrera

Grade: A-
Would I Buy: No

Review:

Director David Ayer, provides us with what has become his forte, a fresh cop drama. Ayer has provided a few hits, and is most popularly known for Training Day. This film does has it's simularities to Training Day, but is also diverse in plot and directional style to not need comparison. However, both films are very solid. This film is about two officers Taylor and Zavala (Gyllenhaal and Pena) who have been having success while they are reassigned to a new section on their watch shifts. They are making a lot of good busts and really contributing to the force. However, after one particular bust an arrogant Officer Taylor persuades Officer Zavala to search more in depth into a situation that will ultimately change their lives forever.

First of all, before I begin giving my review I want to issue a warning. This IS NOT a film for young people. What I mean is don't bring your little brothers, sisters, kids, or anything of the sort to see End of Watch; it's rated R for a reason. Besides Casino and a few other films that have Robert DeNiro or Joe Pesci in them this film probably had the most f bombs and other language that I've heard in the entirety of its screen time. It's not that it really bothered me, but there were definitely times it was just unnecessary to say it that much. Also, End of Watch has very gruesome images and is definitely aimed for a mature audience with some of the situations these officers encounter, and I will leave it at that. On to my review!

The acting in this movie was superb, and it was really lifted by the amazing chemistry that Gyllenhaal and Pena had together. If I had to guess, half of their dialogue while riding in the police car was probably ad libbed, it was really something to watch the guys work together. It was honestly like they've been partners for years. The script was written perfectly to build their relationship and to show how comfortable they were with working together, not only as friends, but in life or death situations. Also, while we're talking about the script, certain parts of End of Watch were hilarious. The chemistry they had led to really funny stories that made you honestly feel like you were laughing with them, it was awesome.

The plot and objectives in this film were solid, and I was very pleased with the pacing. I felt that everything flowed right a long together, with the amount of time the film spent. The action was great to watch as well, and the climax of the film will literally leave you on the edge of your seat; it was just intense. There really wasn't much to dislike about the film, except the unreal amount of swearing.

I definitely recommend you to see this film,but like I said earlier, I am saying that to older people who are mature enough to handle what they are watching. Kids should not be anywhere in the theater! The only reason I won't buy it is, although I loved the film, it's just not something I could see me recommending to everyone when I have people over or something that while I'm just chilling that I would be dying to watch. It was a great one time view for sure.

Definitely worth the cost of admission!

Lawless review

Lawless

Length: 1 hr. 55 min.
Genre: Drama/Action

Cast:
Tom Hardy
Shia LaBeouf
Guy Pearce
Gary Oldman
Jason Clarke
Jessica Chastain

Grade: B+
Would I Buy: Yes

Review:

Lawless is the true story of the three Bondurant brothers(LaBeouf, Hardy, Clarke) spat in the face of the Prohibition by bootlegging alcohol into their small Virginian town. However with crime wave on high, what starts out as bootlegging takes a violent turn whenever a crooked and demented detective from New York (Pearce) comes in to stop the illegal action the Bondurant brothers are apart of with impure and violent motives of his own.

Right off the bat what you will see in this film is that Tom Hardy, is indeed, a B.A. which I think we already knew am I right? Not only is he a powerhouse physically, but the man can also act, and act well which is the strength of this film. Maybe not HIS acting in general because honestly, he is a man a few words in this film, however the true hats off performances in my opinion go to LaBeouf and Pearce. They nailed their characters to a T. Although I hated their characters actions in the film, the acting was simply put, phenomenal. This film succesfully makes you root for the Bondurant brothers although you know the whole time what they are doing is highly illegal. It paints the picture to show that, but their motives are shown to not be all that bad, just trying to make some cash. From the second that Pearce shows up on screen, you immediately hate his character, and in the climax of this film he just delivers.

This film is gritty ladies and gentleman, let there be no mistake about that! It is very violent, bloody, and everything I like in a movie so I had no problem with that at all. However in the midst of all this blood that is shown it really did have some good humor. Now one gripe I can see of people saying about this film is at times, it could be "boring". But this film isn't supposed to be a shoot em up piece, it is telling a TRUE story. Keep an open mind about that while you are watching it, and you will really enjoy it.

My only gripe about Lawless was the pacing of it. I felt that a few scenes in it were kind of unneccesary to the overall story, and I felt like it went up and down too much. I enjoy slow moments to build up to big ones later, but the pacing was just off...I think you'll be able to see what I'm saying whenever you watch it.

Overall I thought it was really a great film and I will definitely buy it. It's a beautifully shot film as well! Go see it!