The Guard
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
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.
The movie is more pure, profane enjoyment than a body should have in the dog days of August.
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."
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.
In this offbeat buddy-cop comedy, Don Cheadle, as an FBI agent trying to stop a drug ring, makes the perfect foil.
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)
No lists