From the writer of Training Day comes this gritty look at the day-to-day operations of two street cops in south-central L.A. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a hot shot beat officer who decides to record his operations for a film class, much to the chagrin of loyal partner Michael Peña. The found footage style even extends to the bad guys, as drug cartels and street gangs psych themselves up on camera before heading into action. It's a bumpy approach, but one that gives a sharp feel and some stomach-wrenching tension to what would likely otherwise be routine police drama. When coupled with the humour that Gyllenhaal and Peña bring to their lived-in partnership, End of Watch becomes all the more intense. A showcase on how police work can shift at any second from life to death.
