End of Watch (2012)
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Two Los Angeles Police Department officers navigate the dangers of their daily work while forging a deep bond of brotherhood.
The story
Officers Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala are close friends and partners in the LAPD's Newton Division, assigned to patrol a high crime area of South Central Los Angeles. Taylor, a United States Marine Corps veteran, records their activities for a college class after they return to duty from a recent officer-involved shooting. The film follows their daily routines, their interactions with local gang members, and the development of their personal lives and friendship while navigating the complexities of their roles as police officers in a dangerous urban environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Officers Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala patrol a high-crime area of South Central Los Angeles. After a series of incidents, including a confrontation with a gang member and a rescue during a house fire, they are alerted to a human trafficking operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. They are later warned by a gang member that they have been 'green-lit' for assassination by the cartel. Amidst these threats, Taylor becomes engaged and Zavala's wife gives birth. Following a traumatic encounter with a rookie officer's situation, they are eventually baited into an ambush in an apartment complex. During the ensuing gunfight, Taylor is shot. While Zavala attempts to treat his wounds, they are attacked by assassins. Zavala is killed, and Taylor survives, eventually delivering a simple eulogy at his friend's funeral: 'He was my brother.'
- First release year
- 2012
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Ayer
- Writers
- David Ayer · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jake Gyllenhaal · Brian Taylor; Michael Peña · Mike Zavala; Natalie Martinez · Gabby Zavala; Anna Kendrick · Janet Taylor
- Genres
- action; thriller; crime drama
- Themes
- brotherhood; police duty; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- gritty; intense
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy cop; found footage; police procedural
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and was praised for its performances and realism, despite some criticism regarding its handheld cinematography and casting choices.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 183; Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Independent Spirit Award · nomination · nomination
- Production trivia
- The cast underwent an intensive training program including 12-hour ride-alongs.; The film was shot in a combination of found footage style and traditional photography.; An alternate ending where both main characters died was filmed but not used.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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