The Thin Blue Line..."End Of Watch"

End of Watch (2012)

Rated R

Starring Jake Gylenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, America Ferrera,

Written and Directed by David Ayer

The Story:

Brian (Gylenhaal) and Mike (Pena) are officers in the LAPD. They're partners. They're brothers. When they uncover crimes being committed that are well above the street thug level that they are used to, they draw the unwanted attention of a Mexican cartel that orders them killed.

Your feeling about the police will likely color your desire to even see this film.

It's brutal and unflinching in portraying life on the streets of California and the dangers that are out there for citizens, criminals, and the police.

Shot in a documentary style for Brian's college class, you'll be up close and  personal as the personal and professional lives of Brian and Mike play out before you.

The rest of the supporting cast is great, and used sparingly.

Again, this is about the partners and the bond they share.

It's also what gives the film the extra heart and soul and may likely lead you to tears by the film's conclusion.

It's a film that had been sitting in my queue for years, and I'm finally glad I got around to seeing it.

Final Grade:  B

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? "Self/Less"

Self/Less (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley,

Directed by Tarsem Singh

The Story:

A dying multi-millionaire (Kingsley) discovers a radical solution by Professor Albright (Goode) to his problem: they will transfer his consciousness into a body that was grown in a lab (Reynolds). Sounds too good to be true?

It is.

When he discovers that the body was not grown but actually  someone else thanks to the  weird visions he keeps having, he tracks down his former life, while being tracked down by people who very much wish to keep this project a secret.

Luckily his new body has some Army training, sir!

: )

Nothing earth-shattering in cinematic achievement, but it is a movie that will hold your attention throughout and you can forgive any plot holes that you find.

Nothing wrong with that.

Kingsley gives a great performance, as always, though he's not in the movie for very long.

Then they turn it over to Reynolds, and he gets to play a fish out of water as he slowly learns what diabolical plan he really signed up for. He doesn't get to play too much of the smart-aleck character that we know and love, but he does a good job.

I totally buy him as an action hero.

;)

Final Grade: C+