End of Watch

Theatrical Release: 9/21/2012

Reviewer: Dick Rolfe
Source: Theater
Writer: David Ayer
Director: David Ayer
Genre: Action
Runtime: 109 min.
MPAA Rating: R
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Natalie Martinez, Anna Kendrick, David Harbour,Frank Grillo, America Ferrera

Synopsis:
David Ayer's End of Watch stars Michael Peña and Jake Gyllenhaal as a pair of L.A. cops and close friends who work to keep the streets safe. Shot in a found-footage style, the movie follows the duo as they make enemies with a major drug cartel and attempt to lead happy personal lives.

Dove Worldview:
"End of Watch" portrays two police officers in South Central Los Angeles and the conflicted dynamics between trying to enforce the law in a lawless neighborhood and leading a "normal" family life. Much of the footage in this film was from the point of view of patrol car dashboard cameras and home video clips by both the cops and the gang bangers. The tension was heightened by turf wars between Hispanic and black gangs. Add to that, a Mexican cartel running a human trafficking and drug ring in the same area and you have a non-stop crime drama of gigantic proportions. To punctuate the frenetic action the bloody violence, sexual expletives, obscenities and profanities were also non-stop.

Whether "End of Watch" is a realistic portrayal or not the graphic nature of the content in this film prohibits Dove from awarding its "Family-Approved" Seal.

Content Chart & Description

Rating Descriptions

Sex: Unmarried couple engages in sex (no nudity); many so-called "humorous" but disrespectful references toward women as sex objects.
Language: More profanities and obscenities than could be counted; at least 11 blasphemies (J/JC/GD)
Violence: Multiple shootings with much blood; stabbings - a knife stuck in a man's eye socket; decomposing bodies in a trench.
Drugs: Drug parties; bags of drugs found during arrests.
Nudity: Cleavage; pole dancer (partially clothed).
Other: Gang-bang parties; disrespect between police and gang members with brutality on both sides; one police officer says, "marriage is a promise before God."; two cops rescue three children from a burning house.

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