Well now, here’s
a movie for fans of British/English-style comedy. The Guard is a
delightful Irish buddy cop comedy film released in 2011, and it’s the most
successful Irish independent film ever upon its release.
The story is
strange—but strange in a good way—as the director takes us on a Rush Hour (1998)
kind of trip. This time, though, the person flanking the American is crazy,
unstable, and an interesting Irish fellow.
The Guard was
written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, and while the story is good,
it’s Brendan Gleeson’s portrayal of Sgt. Gerry Boyle that makes this movie
stand out. In this film, he always leaves you smiling when he opens his mouth
to deliver a vulgar response to an innocent question or remark.
Gleeson brought
life to what might have otherwise been an overlooked movie. He made sure you’d
totally love the character of Sgt. Boyle, and the movie’s ending has a bit of
an action façade, making you forget that this is a buddy cop dark comedy and
not a Rambo (1982) or Commando-style action film.
The Guard’s
storytelling is very unique. Unlike other buddy cop movies where you can guess
your way through, this one is full of unexpected twists. This style earned the
movie plenty of recognition from over 20 different film award programs and
festivals, including the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and the Irish Film and Television
Awards, where it won five awards.
The film
introduces our protagonist, Sgt. Boyle, as an intelligent, carefree, and rude
Irish police officer whose idea of a joke is a racist comment to an African
American FBI agent (Don Cheadle) sent to Ireland to stop a suspected drug
trafficking scheme.
A three-man
drug-dealing team is on the ground in Ireland, awaiting a shipment of cocaine
worth over $500 million. They decide the best way to succeed is by buying off
anyone who could be a stumbling block to their success.
They just didn’t
count on Sgt. Boyle being stubborn.
The Guard was
a critical and commercial success, and it’s the kind of movie you can chill
back and watch with the Mrs. while sending the kids to the cinema to watch
Disney’s Finding Dory (2016). I encourage you to see this movie and
find out for yourself why it received so much recognition. Be warned,
though—the movie is Irish, so you may have to listen attentively!
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