I’m not normally a fan of cop movies, but I have to say that End of Watch was not only the best cop movie I’ve seen, but one of the best movies I’ve seen in many years, of any kind (trailer). The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as Los Angeles police officers Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala.  After stumbling upon and interfering with the activities of a Mexican cartel, they become targets for assassination.

This movie is made to appear as if it has been shot mostly with the handheld camera one of the characters was carrying, giving it that homemade POV (point of view) feel. Only occasionally would it revert to the usual 3rd person storyteller. The action and the dialogue were raw, while the quiet moments were sweet, funny, and very human. I found myself carried along and carried away with the characters as if they were real people; their love, laughter, adrenalin, horror, fear, grief, and sorrow. I can’t recommend this movie highly enough.