Jake Gyllenhaals Non-Stop 109-Minute Crime Thriller Officially Lands New Streaming Home

Even though major roles in movies like Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, Road House, and Ambulance have landed Jake Gyllenhaal a reputation as an action star, one of his most memorable shoot-’em-up roles was in a film that deserves more attention.

Directed by David Ayer (of Suicide Squad and The Beekeeper fame), this 109-minute feature was presented in a found-footage format and, through its sheer realism, delivered a captivating experience. An enthralling film about the dangers of police work and the unbreakable bond between two officers facing the violent underworld of Los Angeles. 14 years later, it has received a new streaming release, giving audiences a new chance to catch one of Gyllenhaal’s best action performances.

‘End of Watch’ Isn’t Your Average Buddy Cop Action Movie

End of Watch follows Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña), two LAPD officers who spend their days fighting crime in South Central Los Angeles. They’re also best friends, and in the field Zavala and Taylor often push the boundaries of their work, but ultimately they gain respect from locals. However, their latest investigation puts them up against one of the most feared drug cartels in the world, and they become the cartel’s next targets.

Produced on a $7.5 million budget, End of Watch performed well at the box office, grossing a worldwide total of $57.6 million. It also received a positive critical reception, eventually earning an 85% critics’ score and a Certified Fresh label on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is Ayer’s highest-rated project on the review aggregator, and ranks among the highest-rated films in Gyllenhaal’s and Peña’s careers.

Famed critic Roger Ebert was among those who praised End of Watch, writing the following in his four-star review: “End of Watch is one of the best police movies in recent years, a virtuoso fusion of performances and often startling action…Taylor and Zavala fit the template of the ‘cop buddy movie,’ but End of Watch goes so much deeper than that…The consistent plausibility of End of Watch must owe a great deal to writer-director David Ayer.”

Although found footage is mostly associated with horror movies, the narrative format can be used in other genres, and End of Watch is the perfect example. Within the constraints of the format, Ayer puts together action sequences that prioritize realism over spectacle.

Luckily, the format also helps add drama to the part of the movie that focuses on the officers’ personal lives and the emotional toll of their dangerous profession, allowing the story to slow down without losing its intensity.

End of Watch doesn’t feel like a movie constrained by found-footage conventions, a format whose best examples often use chaos as a storytelling device. End of Watch is more about capturing the raw nature of one of the most dangerous professions from an unfiltered perspective. Peña shines as usual, but Gyllenhaal’s brilliant portrayal of police officer Brian Taylor is among his most honest and human performances. The film’s final moments – and we won’t spoil what happens – rank among his best on-screen work.

End of Watch is now streaming on Peacock as part of the November update. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldier of Benghazi, The Contractor, The Fast and the Furious, and Hacksaw Ridge are also new arrivals to the platform.

Release Date

September 21, 2012

Runtime

109 minutes