The Guard (2011 film)

The Guard
Directed by John Michael McDonagh
Produced by Chris Clark
Flora Fernandez-Marengo
Ed Guiney
Andrew Lowe
Written by John Michael McDonagh
Starring Brendan Gleeson
Don Cheadle
Music by Calexico
Cinematography Larry Smith
Editing by Chris Gill
Studio Reprisal Films
Element Pictures
Crescendo Productions
Aegis Film Fund
Irish Film Board
Prescience
UK Film Council
Distributed by Element Pictures
(Ireland)
Optimum Releasing
(United Kingdom)
Release date(s) January 20, 2011 (2011-01-20) (Sundance Film Festival)
July 7, 2011 (2011-07-07) (Ireland)
Running time 96 minutes
Country Ireland
Language English
Irish Gaelic
Budget $US6 million[1]
Box office $17,622,501 [1]

The Guard (2011) is an Irish black comedy film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, and starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.[2][3] It is the most successful independent Irish film of all time in terms of Irish box-office receipts, overtaking The Wind that Shakes the Barley (2006) which previously held this status. [4]

Contents

Synopsis

An unorthodox Garda (Irish policeman) named Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) joins forces with a straight-laced FBI agent named Everett (Don Cheadle) to take on an international drug smuggling gang in Ireland's Connemara Gaeltacht.[2][3]

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

Production

Principal filming began on October 29, 2009, in Leitir Móir (Lettermore) Co. Galway. Filming took place over a six-week period in Connemara, Leitir Móir, Leitir Mealláin (Lettermullen), An Spidéal and Bearna with some scenes for filming in Wicklow and Dublin.[2] 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).[2]

International sales were handled by Metropolis Films and the film was released by Element Pictures Distribution in Ireland,[2][5][6] Optimum Releasing in the United Kingdom, Sony Pictures Classics in the United States and Alliance Films in Canada.

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.[2] 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.[2] Cinematographer Larry Smith is known for his work on Eyes Wide Shut and production designer John-Paul Kelly for his work on Venus.[2][5][6]

Reception

The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and cinemagoers.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

In Variety, Justin Chang wrote:

The film making 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.[11]

In Ain't It Cool News, Rav Jarette wrote:

The best action comedy to hit in a long time.[12]

In Slashfilm.com, Germain Lussier wrote:

Hot Fuzz’ Plus ‘In Bruges’ Equals Funnier Than Both.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

In Now Magazine, Norm Wilner wrote:

The Guard is showy, smart and hysterically funny ..... Damned if it isn't one of the best movies I've seen this year." [17]

Accolades

References

  1. ^ a b "The Guard (2011)". Box Office Mojo. 2011-07-29. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=guard.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cheadle & Gleeson Join Forces For ‘The Guard’". IFTN. October 29, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSTRE59T0KU20091030. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
  3. ^ a b Jaafar, Ali (November 4, 2009). "Gleeson, Cheadle join 'Guard'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010851.html?categoryId=19&cs=1&cache=false. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
  4. ^ "'The Guard' Topples 'Barley' to Become #1 Indie Irish Film". IFTN. http://iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4284243&tpl=archnews&force=1. Retrieved 09 September 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Cooper, Sarah (November 2, 2009). "Brendan Gleeson joins Irish comedy thriller The Guard". Screen. http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/uk-ireland/brendan-gleeson-joins-irish-comedy-thriller-the-guard/5007576.article. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
  6. ^ a b Hayden, Esther (November 4, 2009). "Gleeson and Cheadle line up for new movie". Bray People. http://www.braypeople.ie/entertainment/gleeson-and-cheadle-line-up-for-new-movie-1935324.html. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
  7. ^ "The Guard". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_guard_2011/. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 
  8. ^ McCarthy, Todd,"Brendan Gleeson Shines in The Guard. Hollywood Reporter review of 27th Sundance Film Festival", HollywoodReporter.com, 21 Jan 2011
  9. ^ Lopez, John, "Park City Thrills to The Guard. Vanity Fair review of 27th Sundance Film Festival", VanityFair.com, 23 Jan 2011
  10. ^ D'Arcy, David,"The Guard. Screen International review of Sundance 2011", ScreenDaily.com, 21 Jan 2011
  11. ^ Chang, Justin,"Sundance: The Guard. Variety review of Sundance 2011", Variety.com, 21 Jan 2011
  12. ^ Jarette, Rav "Rav calls Brendan Gleeson a cinema badass in THE GUARD! SUNDANCE 2011!", AintitCool.com, 22 Jan 2011
  13. ^ Lussier, Germain, "Sundance Review", SlashFilm.com, 27 Jan 2011
  14. ^ Bumbray, Chris, "The Guard", JoBlo.com, 28 Jan 2011
  15. ^ Ide, Wendy, "The Guard at the Edinburgh Film Festival", TheTimes.co.uk, 16 June 2011
  16. ^ Miller, Ross, "The Guard", BlogCritics.org, 14 Jun 2011
  17. ^ Wilner, Norm, "The Guard", Now Magazine, Toronto, August Jan 2011

External links