Director: David Ayer
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Natalie Martinez and Anna Kendrick
****
Ayer wrote Training Day and directed Harsh Times and Street Kings, so it's safe to say police thrillers are his forte.
Like his previous directorial efforts, this story, which enjoyed screenings at the ADFF, unfolds on the mean gangland streets of South Central Los Angeles but the twist is that the cop partners Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Zavala (Peña) are the good guys, kind of.
Yes they occasionally turn a blind eye to malpractice but at heart they are men who love their job, want to arrest the baddies and keep the streets safe. The best scenes are those that take place in between the crack dens and car chases, and feature Taylor and Zavala chatting hilariously about life, love and work. It's the best police procedural for many a year.
