To the cinema for 'End Of Watch'. Solid buddy-cops-vs-Mexican-drugs-cartel action. Having watched 'The Master' a couple of days ago, it is a sweet relief to see a film with understandable characters and a tangible storyline.
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| Difficult. Exasperating. |
Film reviewers are throwing stars at "The Master" like confetti. Don't get it. Yes, the performances are impressive. (To my mind, too impressive. At all times there is a sense that the leads are Doing Very Powerful Acting.) But that's not enough to make up for everything else - nebulous, opaque and long-winded. I tried to love it but, despite best efforts, lost heart (along with any narrative thread) somewhere in the middle.
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| Eyes, and and ears, a mouth and a nose |
Amongst critics there are some rare voices of dissent - the one that resonates most with me is Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun:
'It is fabulously well-acted and crafted, but when I reach for it, my hand closes on air.'
Not so with 'End of Watch'. Guns. Blood. Bodies. Shouting. Jake Gyllenhaal with his cartoon-big eyes and mouth. Simple stuff.
I think I've found my level (low).
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