The Guard

2011 Crime Drama

Confrontational Irish cop Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) reluctantly teams with uptight FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) to take down a gang of international drug traffickers in this comedy thriller co-starring Mark Strong, Rory Keenan, and Liam Cunningham.

Director: John Michael McDonagh

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Rory Keenan, Liam Cunningham, David Wilmot

Reviews

  • The Guard is a pleasure. I can't tell if it's really (bleeping) dumb or really (bleeping) smart, but it's pretty (bleeping) good.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • The movie is more pure, profane enjoyment than a body should have in the dog days of August.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    27 April 2013

  • Part Joel & Ethan Coen and part John Millington Synge, this grotty little fairy tale casts a deft line and reels you in. I'd see it again just to hear the drug smugglers argue over the use of the Americanism "good to go."

    Michael Phillips - The Chicago Tribune

    27 April 2013

  • If the movie's mix of nihilistic violence and snarky attitude suggests "In Bruges," it's a family resemblance. The writer-director of that film, which also starred Gleeson, is Martin McDonagh, the younger brother of this one's. Despite the similarities, the older McDonagh has a lighter touch. Where "In Bruges" ultimately became a mechanical bloodbath, The Guard scampers quickly through the action scenes, delivering commentary on genre conventions as it goes.

    Mark Jenkins - NPR

    27 April 2013

  • In this offbeat buddy-cop comedy, Don Cheadle, as an FBI agent trying to stop a drug ring, makes the perfect foil.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Original Screenplay

    BAFTA Awards (2012)

     
  • Best Actor

    BET Awards (2012)

     
  • John Michael McDonagh

    Berlin International Film Festival (2011)

  • Outstanding Supporting Actor

    Black Reel Awards (2012)

  • Best Actor

    British Independent Film Awards (2011)