Film: The Guard
Cast includes: Brendan Gleeson (The General), Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes)
Writer/Director: John Michael McDonagh (Ned Kelly)
Genre: Comedy/Mystery/Thriller (2011)
In brief: Aidan McBride is the new guy who’s just been transferred from Dublin and he finds Sergeant Gerry Boyle’s approach to police work very unorthodox. When called to investigate a murder, McBride tells Boyle it might be a serial killing. “That’d be a first for Galway,” Boyle scoffs. Before they even know who the dead guy is, a phone tip leads Boyle and McBride to Billy Devaney. “Where were you at approximately 9 in the PM last night?” As it turns out, Devaney couldn’t have done it… he was in a bar, busy “battering Joey Brennan about the head.” Back to the drawing board. McBride thinks it’s the murder that’s brought the FBI to Galway county.
Actually, it’s nothing to do with the murder. The FBI's after drug traffickers. They’ve tracked down a ship they believe is bringing a half billion–dollar cocaine shipment to the area. They’ve got 4 suspects and they show the pictures to a group of local police officers. “I thought only black lads were drug dealers,” Boyle pipes up to FBI Agent Wendell Everett… the black lad who’s in charge of the case. When an apology is demanded for the racist slurs, Boyle protests. “I’m Irish, Sir. Racism is part of me culture.” Before they can evict Boyle from the briefing room, Boyle tells Agent Everett, “You’re hunting 3 lads, not 4.” How come? “McCormic’s dead” Boyle tells him. Is Boyle sure? “I hope he’s dead because I just put him into the fucking morgue.”
So Boyle becomes attached to the FBI’s case. And as much as Everett wants to get rid of Boyle, Boyle is stuck like gum on a shoe. While Everett struggles to conduct a by-the-book investigation, clues seem to fall out of the sky on to Boyle’s head. As the two spend more time together, Everett finds Boyle maddening… “I can’t figure out if you’re really motherfucking dumb or really motherfucking smart.” While the direction of this story isn’t difficult to predict, the trip has many unexpected twists and turns. And it’s very funny… if you appreciate Irish humor. Much of the humor is in the dialog, which flies by in thickly accented Irish dialect. They don’t dumb it down for American audiences… if you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss a lot. Agent Everett serves as our guide to some of the quirkiness of the area, but even this smart FBI agent is out of his depth. Not only does Everett struggle to solve a drug-smuggling case, he struggles to figure out what to make of Boyle. Maybe he’s been selling him short. He just might be “motherfucking smart”… he hopes so. And so do we.
3 popped kernels
Twisted, offbeat and very funny… if you enjoy irreverent, ironic Irish humor
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Upbeat
Tempo: Zips right along
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: Irreverent
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
