MovieChat Forums > End of Watch (2012) Discussion > Apparently most of the banter was ad-lib...

Apparently most of the banter was ad-libbed; it really showed

posted 11 years ago by DaveFishBulb
14 replies | jump to latest

The two cops had the most juvenile and trite things to say to each other. To paraphrase a few examples:

Oh my daughter is going to start dating... NEVAR! hur hur!

- it's the kind of thing you've heard before from backward old dads who think they're hilarious in countless other films.

Or how about this:

Blah blah blah I look down upon your stupid white people sh!t.

- yet more run of the mill 'acceptable' mild racism from a protagonist.

And then there's:

Hurr, marriage is serious business, durrr!

- groan.

Or:

You're the smartest guy I know in the whole universe! This girl with a masters isn't clever enough for you, man!

- I had to laugh.

There are many other naff bits of dialogue that I can't quite remember right now but, for me, the vast majority of the humour just fell flat on its face and really needed somebody talented writing it.

When the door goes down blow the bulbs.

[–] corky-27 11 years ago

Never noticed what you're talking about, this movie is the farthest thing from a comedy than I've seen in years. The "dur dur har har" banter is actually what normal pals might say to each other during the course of any normal day, each perhaps thinking (wrongly) that they are the funniest folks since Jack Benny. I actually found that rather refreshing, but to each his own...

Right. Well, I have to-- I have to go now, Duane, because I, I'm due back on the planet Earth.

[–] BillyIdol2 11 years ago

Sounded realistic and not 'acted' - just like folk would chat like..

---------------------

How many lightbulbs does it take to change a man?

[–] dfiguero 11 years ago

You could be right; there was a scene when Gyllenhaal's character is telling Pena's character something about "when you're speaking Spanish", but paused and sounded like he was about to say "speaking hispanic" instead, and Pena teases him and says "hispanic?" And they both laughed. Gyllenhaal looked like he felt silly. Yea those scenes didnt seem rehearsed.

[–] watchkoreanmovies 11 years ago

It was pretty funny when they each had a turn making fun of the stuff their cultures talk about

[–] jco41566 11 years ago

That's the way guys talk when they're stuck in a car for 10-12 hours per day. It sounded exactly like me and my friends.

FWIW they were mostly razzing each other...

[–] koffeenkreame41-1 11 years ago

You could be right; there was a scene when Gyllenhaal's character is telling Pena's character something about "when you're speaking Spanish", but paused and sounded like he was about to say "speaking hispanic" instead, and Pena teases him and says "hispanic?" And they both laughed. Gyllenhaal looked like he felt silly. Yea those scenes didnt seem rehearsed.

That's the way guys talk when they're stuck in a car for 10-12 hours per day. It sounded exactly like me and my friends.

FWIW they were mostly razzing each other...

^^This. I agree with both of these. I thought it felt very real, they had great chemistry together. I guess the OP didn't think the dialogue felt natural. They sounded like two guys that were really close friends for years and they joked in that same way. And that's what makes the ending that much more powerful.

"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna `*beep*` wit me!"- Hudson in Aliens.

[–] pappazeuss 11 years ago

I thought that the banter between these two was the most genuine I have seen in years.i really loved their teamwork spirit too.9/10

[–] Flabrezu 11 years ago

Yeah, I'm sure that when you're talking to your friends it's just deep intellectual conversations 24/7.

[–] DaveFishBulb 11 years ago

If you're defending this film's dialogue, I wouldn't blame you for thinking that any other random people sound really smart.

[–] tokyostreetkiller 11 years ago

The banter reminded me of when I was in the Army. Basically grown ass men talking sh*t, acting immature and juvenile. It brought back memories to be honest lol

"Let's get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!"

[–] Scribblenaut 11 years ago

Look at this guy, bet him and his buddies sound like they're reading from an Aaron Sorkin script on road trips.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Erendinger 10 years ago

I've recently seen on Letterman an interview with Gyllenhall (he was promoting "Nightcrawler") where he talked about the filming of "End of the Watch".
He and Peña were riding along with LA police patrol units for 5 months. I think it really shows in the movie, especially in their banter and their chemistry.
Gotta say it all had a real enough feeling for me (for a hollywood production)

-

They call her the Meryl Streep of gang bangs.

[–] spasticfreakshow 8 years ago

agreed - the banter and the chemistry between the two lead actors made the film. i liked the raw rough feel of the police experience. it felt real and scary, so the comedy and lighter moments with their ladies balanced it out nicely.