The Guard (2011 film)
| The Guard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Michael McDonagh |
| Written by | John Michael McDonagh |
| Produced by | Chris Clark Flora Fernandez-Marengo Ed Guiney Andrew Lowe Executive producers: Paul Brett Don Cheadle Martin McDonagh David Nash Ralph Kamp Lenore Zerman Associate producer: Elizabeth Eves Lee Magiday |
| Starring | Brendan Gleeson Don Cheadle Liam Cunningham David Wilmot |
| Cinematography | Larry Smith |
| Edited by | Chris Gill |
Production companies | Reprisal Films Element Pictures Crescendo Productions |
| Distributed by | Sony Picture Classics Element Pictures Optimum Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film Ireland |
| Languages | English, Irish |
The Guard (2011) is an Irish black comedy, written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, and starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.[1][2]
Synopsis
An unorthodox Irish policeman, Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) joins forces with a strait-laced FBI agent (Don Cheadle) to take on an international drug smuggling gang in Ireland's Connemara, Gaeltacht.[1][2]
A murder which appears to be the work of an occult serial killer is the first incident the relevance of which is then revealed by Boyle in a briefing by an FBI agent sent to liaise with the Gardai. A web of bribery, blackmail and killings ensues. Boyle and Everett form an unlikely alliance and with the unwitting help of the IRA bring about a bloody denouement.
Cast
- Brendan Gleeson as Sergeant Gerry Boyle
- Don Cheadle as FBI Agent Wendell Everett
- Liam Cunningham as Francis Sheehy-Skeffington
- David Wilmot as Liam O'Leary
- Mark Strong as Clive Cornell
- Fionnula Flanagan as Eileen Boyle
- Sarah Greene as Sinéad Mulligan
- Pat Shortt as Colm Hennessy
- Rory Keenan as Garda Aidan McBride
- Dominique McElligott as Aoife O'Carroll
- Katarina Čas as Gabriela McBride
- Darren Healy as Jimmy Moody
- Gary Lydon as Garda Inspector Gerry Stanton
Production
Principal filming began on October 29, 2009, in Leitir Móir Co. Galway. Filming took place over a six week period in Connemara, Leitir Móir, Leitir Mealláin, An Spidéal and Barna with some scenes for filming in Wicklow and Dublin.[1] Involved companies are Reprisal Films and Element Pictures in association with Prescience, Aegis Film Fund, UK Film Council, and Crescendo Productions, with the participation of An Bord Scannán na hÉireann (Irish Film Board).[1]
International sales are being handled by Metropolis Films and the film is to be released by Sony Pictures Classics in North America, Optimum Releasing in the United Kingdom and Element Pictures Distribution in Ireland.[1][3][4]
Background
Film producers include Chris Clark, Flora Fernandez-Marengo, Ed Guiney, and Andrew Lowe, with executive producers Paul Brett, Don Cheadle, Martin McDonagh, David Nash, Ralph Kamp, Lenore Zerman, and associate producer Elizabeth Eves.[1] Director John Michael McDonagh is known for his screenplay for the 2003 film Ned Kelly and as writer/director of the 2000 film The Second Death.[1] Cinematographer Larry Smith is known for his work on Eyes Wide Shut and production designer John-Paul Kelly for his work on Venus.[1][3][4]
Reception
 |
In The Hollywood Reporter, Todd McCarthy wrote:
- Scabrous, profane, violent, verbally adroit and very often hilarious, this twisted and exceptionally accomplished variation on the buddy-cop format is capped by a protean performance by Brendan Gleeson a defiantly iconoclastic Irish West Country policeman.[5]
In Vanity Fair, John Lopez wrote:
- So far, The Guard has been the most thoroughly enjoyable film experience at Sundance, a nice change of pace from the anomie, alienated angst and melancholy of other films.[6]
In Screen International, David D'Arcy wrote:
- As a director, McDonagh avoids the grand gesture and focuses on his web of odd characters that call to mind the comedies of Preston Sturges.[7]
In Variety, Justin Chang wrote:
- The filmmaking crackles with energy, from Chris Gill's crisp editing and Calexico's ever-inventive score to d.p. Larry Smith's dynamic camerawork, alternating between bright, almost candy-colored interiors and shots of Galway's gray, rugged landscape.[8]
In Ain't It Cool News, Rav Jarette wrote:
- The best action comedy to hit in a long time.[9]
In Slashfilm.com, Germain Lussier wrote:
- 'Hot Fuzz’ Plus ‘In Bruges’ Equals Funnier Than Both.[10]
In JoBlo.com, Chris Bumbray wrote:
- Given the rapturous reaction it received from the press crowd I saw it with; complete with a hearty round of applause when Gleeson's credit came up at the end…one might even consider Gleeson as a possible best actor candidate come Oscar time next year.[11]
In The Times, Wendy Ide wrote:
- Without doubt the strongest debut film of the year so far, this sly, witty and provocative Irish black comedy is an exceptionally funny crowd-pleaser and a playful cine-literate exercise, laced with arcane movie references... Gleeson must be thanking whatever guardian angel oversees his career for the brothers McDonagh giving him two of his meatiest roles yet.[12]
In Blogcritics.org, Ross Miller wrote:
- The story which the astute black humor populates isn’t the most original you’re going to find... However, this is a comedy which stands on the shoulders of Gleeson and the veteran actor carries it with apparent ease.[13]
As of August 1, 2011, the film holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Cheadle & Gleeson Join Forces For 'The Guard'". IFTN. October 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- ^ a b Jaafar, Ali (November 4, 2009). "Gleeson, Cheadle join 'Guard'". Variety. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- ^ a b Cooper, Sarah (November 2, 2009). "Brendan Gleeson joins Irish comedy thriller The Guard". Screen. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- ^ a b Hayden, Esther (November 4, 2009). "Gleeson and Cheadle line up for new movie". Bray People. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd,"Brendan Gleeson Shines in The Guard. Hollywood Reporter review of 27th Sundance Film Festival", HollywoodReporter.com, 21 Jan 2011
- ^ Lopez, John, "Park City Thrills to The Guard. Vanity Fair review of 27th Sundance Film Festival", VanityFair.com, 23 Jan 2011
- ^ D'Arcy, David,"The Guard. Screen International review of Sundance 2011", ScreenDaily.com, 21 Jan 2011
- ^ Chang, Justin,"Sundance: The Guard. Variety review of Sundance 2011", Variety.com, 21 Jan 2011
- ^ Jarette, Rav "Rav calls Brendan Gleeson a cinema badass in THE GUARD! SUNDANCE 2011!", AintitCool.com, 22 Jan 2011
- ^ Lussier, Germain, "Sundance Review", SlashFilm.com, 27 Jan 2011
- ^ Bumbray, Chris, "The Guard", JoBlo.com, 28 Jan 2011
- ^ Ide, Wendy, "The Guard at the Edinburgh Film Festival", TheTimes.co.uk, 16 June 2011
- ^ Miller, Ross, "The Guard", BlogCritics.org, 14 Jun 2011