End of Watch

Pena and Gyllenhaal’s chemistry keeps the buddy cop film from hell alive despite poorly acted stereotype antagonists and an ill-conceived attempt at the illusion of found footage.  Big-time overkill on the training day style action scenes, and unsuccessful message pull this one over.  Emotional beats still pack a heavy punch.

The Place Beyond the Pines

Cianfrance’s bloody valentine is a three headed mutant character study, with slow deliberate pacing, kept entertaining through some of the curviest curveballs ever thrown and a cast who knock them out of the park.  Powerful and shocking drama boldly introduces hyper-Aristotle’s 3x3 act structure.   Awfully long run-time, but squashes it.