Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is an
off-the-wall, somewhat crotchety veteran police officer who patrols a small
Irish town. Shortly after beginning an investigation into a peculiar murder,
Boyle discovers that his case is related to a major drug ring that is currently
being hunted by FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle). As straight-laced as
they come, Everett is an odd pair for Boyle but the two are forced to work
together to take down the cartel. When the case pulls Boyle in deeper than he
would have ever imagined he is forced to reexamine his life’s work and turn
himself into an unlikely hero.
If that synopsis makes “The Guard” sound wholly serious,
bear in mind that it is completely and totally a comedy. A dark comedy to be
sure but a comedy nonetheless. If you’ve ever wondered what “Hot Fuzz” would be
like if it was subtle and less over-the-top, “The Guard” fits the bill. This is
writer/director John Michael McDonagh’s first full length film but I would
never have guessed it if not for the magic of IMDB. It is a witty, well-written
film that makes its tone clear from the first scene. The pacing isn’t exactly
what I would call slow but instead calculatedly casual; it knows where it
intends to go and it makes its way with balanced determination. This is a film
that knows its own identity and doesn’t stray from the dark comedy path more
than a time or two. Its humor is smart and lively. Even with the thick accents
(which probably caused me to miss a joke or two) “The Guard” is filled with exquisite
dialogue and understated jokes that brought more laughs than anything from all
but the very best big budget comedies this year has brought.
The plot of “The Guard” is simple but refined and that
pushes all of the attention onto the characters and the actors who portray
them. Cheadle is a solid straight man and as he always does, he makes the
absolute most of every scene he is given. As one of the ringleaders of the drug
ring, Mark Strong’s character is straight out of a Guy Ritchie film, a role
Strong is great at playing. Please Mr. Strong: stick to these films and stay
away from popcorn crap like “Green Lantern.” But despite all of the excellent
actors around him, “The Guard” is all about Gleeson. His work in 2008’s “In
Bruges” (coincidentally directed by McDonagh’s brother Martin) finally brought
him the attention he deserves, but Gleeson has always been a favorite of mine,
a magnificent actor who never fails to impress no matter how little screen time
he is given. Boyle is a without a doubt a curmudgeon (and a slightly racist one
at that) but Gleeson makes him exceedingly likeable. He is a wild card, the
type of guy who does the right thing when you’re absolutely sure he’s going to
continue to disgrace himself and Gleeson pulls this off perfectly. Moreover, he
once again exhibits the brilliant comedic timing that has made him one of the
best and most versatile actors Ireland has to offer. I’m not saying it’s his
best performance but rather another in a long string of quality portrayals that
illustrate just how undervalued this guy really is.
Fun, intelligent, and genuinely hilarious, “The Guard” is
an excellent departure from my typical fare this time of year. I’ve made no
bones about the fact that I really like summer blockbusters. I love them, in
fact. But when a movie like “The Guard” comes along in the midst of the “Conan
the Barbarians” of the world, it serves as an incredibly refreshing reminder of
what we have to hope for in the coming months.
Grade: B+
I think we need a conversion chart for “Dallas Traffic
Time”,
Brian
Dark comedy, 'ey? I used to be a big fan of dc's - The Young Poisoner's Handbook, Grease 2 et al - but then Death At A Funeral, with it's preceding hoopla 'n' rhubarb, flopped onto the scene. I'm still not recovered. On a good day, I can shuffle to the letterbox and back.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick FYI Gleeson is not from the UK. He is Irish as in the Republic of Ireland. Not a part of the UK. The brits steal any good actors Ireland has and bills them as brits. Oh and when there is bad press they become Irish again
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous, you beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteDifferent tribes, different nations.