The Guard

Director: John Michael McDonagh
Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong,
DVD release: 22 December 2011
Rated: MA 15+

In the midst of the latest batch of much-hyped Hollywood blockbusters comes a modest, unassuming film from Ireland that puts most of them to shame. John Michael McDonogh’s The Guard is a comic treat – black comedy, mind you, but a treat nonetheless.

If the director’s name is somewhat familiar, he’s the brother of acclaimed playwright and film director, Martin McDonogh, and it seems talent runs in the family. If you recall Martin’s acclaimed In Bruges, you’ll have a pretty good idea what to expect from The Guard; albeit in reverse. While In Bruges had Brendan Gleeson as a hitman with a conscience, here he impresses once again as a cop with a dark side.

The film is set in the rather wild west of Ireland; which was also the setting for Martin’s West Country stage trilogy – The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West and A Skull in Connemarra. It’s plainly familiar territory for the McDonagh clan but is a rather foreign setting for the rest of the world.

Gleeson is Sgt. Gerry Boyle, a Garda (policeman) in Connemarra. He’s an old-fashioned cop and his rather ‘unconventional’ approach to policing has alienated him from the remainder of the regional police hierarchy. Indeed, he might be even more alienated if they knew of his taste for illicit drugs and hookers. His somewhat buffoonish exterior hides an acute mind, even if Boyle is content to keep it hidden as much as possible.

His gruff approach soon finds him offside as the Gardai are called in to help the FBI track a drug-running boat that’s headed for the west of Ireland. The Americans has sent the uptight Agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) to educate and coordinate the locals in the search. But the astute Boyle soon realises that the drug runners are mixed up in a bizarre murder and the disappearance of a new Garda, Aidan McBride (Rory Keenan). But the culprits - Sheehy (Liam Cunningham), O'Leary (David Wilmot) and Cornell (Mark Strong) - are playing for keeps; and messing with them brings great danger to both the community, and Boyle and Everett themselves.

John Michael McDonogh directs from his own script, and the rather familiar McDonagh humour is to the fore once again (perhaps that accounts for Martin's executive producer credit). It's a dry brand of comedy that's both entertaining and a little disconcerting. Certainly, there are a few scenes here that are quite confronting, but even they carry a darkly comic edge.

The film was shot entirely in Ireland and mostly on location, which naturally aids in its authenticity. Larry Smith's cinematography emphasises the gritty reality of life in the west country; while the understated score by indie band Calexico adds some nice tone to the film.

Gleeson (Green Zone) is exceptional as the rough-around-the-edges Boyle. Whispers of an Oscar nomination may be optimistic, but it would definitely be deserved if it came. This is one of his best performances, and considering he rarely provides anything less than stellar turns, that's saying something. Having to play alongside Gleeson, Don Cheadle (Ocean's Eleven) has to play second fiddle somewhat; a situation exacerbated by the task of having to play a rather buttoned-down character.

Among the supporting cast, it's the villains who get the best roles. Liam Cunningham (Harry Brown) impresses as the philosophical leader of the drug runners; David Wilmot (The Tudors – TV) has fun as the psychotic O'Leary and Mark Strong (Kick-Ass) takes on a familiar role as the muscle. Veteran actress Fionnula Flanagan has a nice cameo and Boyle's ailing mother.

There are moments in The Guard that some may find a little hard to take, but this is nonetheless an impressive debut from yet another member of the talented McDonagh clan. This darkly funny and oddly poignant film will stay with you.

David Edwards