The Guard
Watch Trailer Video Interviews with Brendan Gleeson The Premiere of 'The Guard' - Red Carpet Interviews
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, David Wilmot, Don Cheadle, Fionnula Flanagan, Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong
Details: Ireland/95mins 15A
Gleeson is veteran Officer Sergeant Gerry Boyle, a bit of a rogue cop who marches by the beat of his own drum. When a drug smuggling ring headed by Liam Cunningham and Mark Strong's criminals sets up shop on Boyle's turf, the FBI send Cheadle's decorated agent to oversee the investigation. While not getting off to a great start - Boyle raises his hand during a briefing to ask the FBI Agent if he is "from the hood" - the two men soon come to share a mutual respect, and team up to investigate the case.
Brendan Gleeson embodies Gerry Boyle so completely perfectly that you won't be able to fathom anyone else playing the man after you leave the cinema. Like a great tennis player, his performance instantly raises the game of those around him and the Howth native gives arguably the best performance of the year so far. Cheadle and Strong have far less to do, but both men obviously understood the tone of the script and deliver solid supporting performances, while Cunningham is great as the quintessential Dublin gang boss.
If there is fault with The Guard, however, it's its aesthetic. The film could have looked better, and at times the edits aren't as cohesive as they could have been. It's far from a fatal flaw, but it is noticeable at points. That said, when the script is this good and the cast this talented, it really is a minor glitch.
It's difficult not to compare this film to 'In Bruges' as the tone isn't dissimilar and there's an obvious connection with Gleeson and McDonagh. The Colin Farrell-starrer is probably that little bit darker, though, while The Guard feels more like its protagonist; ironic and almost satirical, but ultimately smarter than it initially appears to be.
Worth seeing for Gleeson's brilliant performance alone, this is a sharp, sardonic and at times hilarious Irish film.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
Will.i.am
Was at the premiere last night at Eye Cinema, Didnt get in to it obviously, Going back 2night, cnt wait...
Posted 07/07/2011 14:16:55
ellegibbons
Went to the premiere last week, really enjoyed this movie. Brendan Glesson carried the movie throughout, a laugh out loud and Classic Irish movie set to stand the test of time along with classics such as 'The Van' and 'The Snapper'. Worth going to see this movie!
Posted 11/07/2011 09:02:32
anderson3
Good to see Irish films back in the mainstream. Speaking of which I just came across a quality trailer for some new mock on the Irish porn industry here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1lzpG9kuXY
Posted 11/07/2011 15:09:04
CherrySueDointhedo
John Michael McDonagh, screenwriter of Ned Kelly debuted this aptly genre titled Black Irish Comedy at the Sundance Festival this year to great acclaim. It's interesting to note that the last truly brilliant Irish comedy starring Brendan Gleeson that debuted at last years festival, In Bruges, was the baby of John's brother Martin. They grew the Directors sharp in that family. I did have concerns in the first 20 mins that we were bordering dangerously close to Darby O' Gill territory with plenty of F's & not a lot of tact but was quickly and happily proven wrong as the movie and the plot picked up pace. Throw a brutal murder, drug smuggling, tests in morality and the barren landscape of the 'wesht' and the scene is set. The soundtrack, perfectly chosen supports the movie brilliantly. Enter Don Cheadle as an FBI agent with the initial impression that he's a big fish in a little pond but he quickly realises he's out of his depth altogether and floundering with only the gloriously unPC and refreshingly dry Gleeson's character Sgt Boyle to assist him. (Who, in my opinion, provides us with a hilarious nod to Daniel Craig; you'll know it when you see it). There are laugh out loud moments and situations, which the whole cinema enjoyed. These were provided by the support cast too, namely Liam Cunningham and Mark Strong but to say the others didn't add their own gravitas would be doing them a disservice. This film shows once more Gleeson's outstanding ability to take a role and make it his own, McDonagh certainly provided a sharp yet subtle dialogue but I can't imagine any other actor having the comic timing or the on screen presence to pull this movie off, because it is his movie. A personal highlight for me was the beautiful relationship he held with his ailing mother, whom I believe is the only character to truly know Sgt. Boyle. Don Cheadle's character at one point says to Gleeson, 'I can't decide if you're really motherfu*kin' smart or really motherfu*kin' dumb', I've decided and you should definitely get yourself along to this movie to decide for yourself.
Posted 11/07/2011 16:40:21
Deli
Great film, great actors and great story line. Gleeson is hilarious as the "anti hero" of this movie with a lot of screen time devoted to serving him up as the Columbo of the West! Strong and Cunningham are great as the "non black or mexican" drug smugglers and Cheadle plays the fish out of water very well. Comic timing is fantastic and while there are a few dark moments in this film it really is a credit to all involved. 5 stars :D
Posted 14/07/2011 10:38:30
PabloH
No, I am sorry, I didn't get this. It felt like Emperor and New Clothes to me the way everyone is drooling around the McDonaghs, but then I hated In Bruges too. For me much of The Guard was shallow and crass. Am I really to laugh at lines like "I thought only black fellas were drug smugglers?, or "In a wheel chair? Oh you mean a spastic." And the editing! We start with quite a protracted scene of some lads in a car speeding, drug taking and drinking, who then crash into a wall like some Road Safety Authority advertisement, and then we never refer to them again. We cut to a clump of holiday cottages, where Sergeant Boyle meets for the first time a Guard from Dublin at a murder scene with two Cappuccinos. Please, it just didn't make sense. Then the swearing. It is f**kin' this and f**kin' that. Like the worst sort of failed stand-up. As the introspective philosophy quoting bad guys, I could just imagine the script team sitting round wondering what else they could throw in and someone suggesting a little Tarantino, only done badly. Tired, and done very badly. So what did I like? There were some laughs, thin ones; Brendan Gleeson was brilliant; the cameo from Pat Shortt was hilarious; the production quality was high; and the large font red end credits were well done, and much appreciated.
Posted 20/07/2011 19:38:06
Tomboy
You must go to see this film, a laugh a minute and oddly enough a good story. I loved it. Gleeson was brillant.
Posted 21/07/2011 15:29:30
noel
Average at best after all the hype its just average Gleeson is fine looks like he was having a ball, with him aside its not very good, looks cheap, lots of swearing is not funny, No where near as good as the excellent In Bruges, a damn shame as this had the potential to be as good if not better. 2 stars both for Gleeson.
Posted 23/07/2011 20:18:48
Raikkonette
This movie was absolutely horrible. The linear, convoluted plot was poorly hashed together, and completely bogged down by a mish-mash of sub-plots that lead nowhere. Poorly scripted "comedy" (and I use the term lightly) falls flat on it's face, and centers solely around 5 things: drugs, swear words, prostitutes, racism, and the IRA. The director completely misses the meaning of the term "black comedy", interpreting it to mean being downright offensive, and the screenwriter must have the sense of humour of a 14 year old boy. Definitely give this one a miss, don't be led on by all the hype as I was. Your money would be much better spent going to your local rental store, and treating yourself to another viewing of the fantastic "In Bruges", directed by Martin McDonagh, clearly the vastly superior brother in terms of talent. There is a man who understands the true meaning of black comedy, and uses it to magnificent effect.
Posted 27/07/2011 01:30:15
Bjorn264
Good, not great, expected another In Bruges, but what you got was a very straight up, formulaic comedy, a very safe comedy. Some good one-liners, but that's about it.
Posted 02/08/2011 20:39:01
Kisser
PabloH up above gave my views exactly on this film. Absolute rubbish. I feel cheated out of my few euros I spent seeing it. So bad I was cringing all the way through for the director.
Posted 03/08/2011 09:52:25
Slick
Puts a smile on your face - easy going always humorous, at times shocking, sometimes laugh out loud top notch comedy. Forget the pretensions of Hollywood's trying too hard this year, esp. Horrible Bosses - you'll love Glesson (a new hero), Galway and the going's on...this delivers surprises, shocks and bang on humour. Sit back and relax - you''ll emerge better for it.
Posted 04/08/2011 11:30:27
LuckyMe
Having heard great things about this film, I was sure it wasn't going to live up to the hype. But it did. Brendan Gleeson was terrific as a Galway Garda. It's not often that a most of the audience are laughing out loud at the one liners, yes even the ones hat were completely politically incorrect. Think this is a film I will watch again and again and get a laugh each time.
Posted 10/08/2011 10:20:52
thermos
Does the soundtrack remind anyone else of a "Spaghetti Weshtern" ?
Posted 15/08/2011 22:15:51
Neelie509
Great film. very funny, whitty, well made and excellent actors. Defo one to have on the shelf at home! :)
Posted 14/09/2011 16:56:15
LittleVillage
Reminded me of a Guy Ritchie film (is there a bigger insult?).. Over-Hyped, clunky and overdone. Tries way to hard, completely cliched.. main character is all over the place, one minute Gleeson is in the depths of depression, next minute he is wise cracking, next minute depressed again. WTF ! Good things about this film, in fairness there are a few - Rory Keenan, Mark Strong (they steal every scene they are in) and Galway - Looks great. Overall - Avoid this turd and rent "Intermission" or "I went down"
Posted 16/09/2011 13:07:32
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Your Reviews...
Don't expect another In Bruges - PJB
I went to this movie full of anticipation - expecting to see the exceptional talents of both Brendan Gleeson and Don... MORE12/09/2011 09:29:28
great stuff - mart1n
In the Guard Brendan Gleeson plays Sergeant Gerry Boyle a foul mouthed, confrontational, moany man who is then made... MORE25/08/2011 00:07:08The Guard - Bandicoot
My wife and I go to the cinema frequently and we have only ever walked out of 1 movie. This is the second one! The... MORE19/08/2011 11:25:23
