Action flicks are a constant mainstay in Hollywood. They’re normally easy to follow, simple to watch, and don’t challenge the viewer in ways that they’re not prepared for. Now and again however a director is required to put something extra into the average action film, as drama, comedy, and even hints of romance can liven up the average action film and give it a new dimension that sets it apart from the rest of the genre. While his chosen method seems to be the hard-hitting no-nonsense kind of action that people want, director David Ayer has also managed to blend enough emotion and dramatic flair into his films that allow them to be worthy of watching twice or multiple times just to see what’s been missed when one focuses so intently on the action sequences.
Five Must-See Ayer Films
5. Sabotage – 2014
Admittedly this the kind of action that fans are used to seeing Schwarzenegger in, but Ayer has done such a masterful job of layering the plot of the film that it’s difficult to really figure out who’s fooling who until the end credits finally begin to roll. A film about bad agents doing bad things, this star-studded movie didn’t do so well at the box office, but it’s still a film worth watching for its action and complexity.
4. Fury – 2014
Luckily the action genre doesn’t allow itself to be defined by a specific time period. “Fury” is set during WWII and shows the struggle of a very diverse bunch of men that are forced into dangerous situations as a part of their job on the front lines. Despite the simplicity of the trailers this film shows a very different view of the war that people don’t often get to see, even if it is fictional in a few regards.
3. End of Watch – 2012
Questionable ethics on the job seems to be Ayer’s calling card. This film shows two of LA’s finest on the job as they go about their daily duties. When they run afoul of a Mexican drug cartel however all hell breaks loose as one might expect. Eventually the film ends with the unfortunate death of one officer while the other is left to mourn. This film wasn’t the greatest ever produced, but it was quite fun to watch.
2. Suicide Squad – 2016
A lot of fans might have been miffed at the portrayal of their favorite villains turned heroes, but in truth a good number of them probably left the theater with the high that comes from a fun and enjoyable movie. Whether people really enjoyed “Suicide Squad” and its lack of adherence to concepts that were either outdated or not aesthetically possible doesn’t matter so much as the fact that it was a bold move to bring DC comics into the mainstream once more in a dark and gritty way that effectively blurred the lines between good and evil as Ayer seems so capable of doing.
1. Harsh Times – 2005
A tough-minded drama about two friends in South Central Los Angeles and the violence that comes between them. And who does it star? Christian Bale.
Final Thoughts
David Ayer is definitely into dark, brooding films, but there’s no doubt that he knows how to inject other elements of cinema to keep it interesting. Despite his dark humor and sometimes off the wall content, he’s proven that he can grab the attention of the viewer and keep it for at least a couple hours at a time.
Follow Us
