David O'ConnellThe Guard
August 23rd 2011 04:27
The Guard is a flavoursome Irish comedy with wonderfully irreverent, politically incorrect overtones. The debut of writer and director John Michael McDonagh, the film features two outstanding performances from its leads. Brendan Gleeson is Gerry Boyle, an embarrassingly honest, unconventional police officer in remote Connemara, Co. Galway. When the discovery of a body suggests international connections, an FBI officer, Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), is called in to assume lead investigator duties.
A fish out of water, Wendell strikes a wall of indifference, not to mention racial stereotyping from the locals – or more specifically from Boyle who, other than imbibing, spending time with his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan) and visitations from prostitutes, views his official duties with limited seriousness.
The disappearance of a new officer from the 'big smoke' of Dublin, and the possible threat of a trio of criminals (including a Brit played by the ever-memorable Mark Strong) heading to town to clinch a drug deal drive the plot along. But the textured landscape of McDonagh’s screenplay gives the film its life with a generous sprinkling of both ribald and black humour to ground it in reality.
The director is the older brother of Martin McDonagh, the man behind another classy Gleeson vehicle, In Bruges (2008). Though his execution lacks the detailing and finesse of that film, McDonagh’s occasional concession to crude local perspective works as a welcome antidote to the hamstrung, generic contextualisation of American cinema.
The film's strength remains Gleeson and Cheadle’s ability to forge a believable low-grade camaraderie even as the jokes fly fast around their heads. With its acerbic Irish slant and plethora of memorable one-liners, The Guard (2011) is a film that may have cultish appeal if not mainstream validation in the short term.
Whilst Gleeson and Cheadle assume the lion’s share of responsibility, even the smallest roles register, each one adding colour to the narrative and locale. An effective score by American band Calexico spices things up too, especially in the final showdown in which a Morricone-inspired Western riff takes over.
The Guard opens in Australian cinemas this Thursday, August 25.
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I was looking forward to covering this, but other scheduling got in the way...
I will have to reach into the moth eaten wallet it looks like..
cheers
fog
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic