1. End Of Watch
Nominations deserved: Best Actor - Jake Gyllenhaal, Best Supporting Actor - Michael Pena, Best Picture End Of Watch came out of nowhere to knock me out and leave a HUGE impression. Weeks after I saw it, I could not shake it. The film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends, and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena light up the screen with the greatest performances of their respected careers. Michael Pena is one of the most, if not the most underrated character actor working today and he lights up the screen. What makes the film so effective is the relationship between the partners. The film would've fallen apart otherwise. We need to care about these characters or the events that follow are for naught because there is no emotional investment in the characters. Gyllenhaal and Pena spent 5-months going on 12-hour ride-alongs with the LAPD in preparation for their roles, which led to Pena and Gyllenhaal improvising most of their dialogue. When these two fantastic performances are combined with the gritty landscape, urban soundtrack, and visceral shooting style, you get easily the most underrated film of the year. This film is not just a viewing experience it is an EXPERIENCE. By the time the credits roll, you FEEL like you were there with these two men. You're not just watching them go through the events that happen; you're FEELING their emotions. The films leaves you drained emotionally and it was the most impressionable and harrowing experience of my movie-going year, with The Impossible a close second. I needed to wait and pull myself together well after the film was over before I could even leave the theater. It was an experience I won't soon forget, and one that reminds me why I love movies. So what do you guys think? Let's hear it in the comments section!