Ryan McNeil
“Y’know I can’t tell if you’re really dumb…or really smart”
THE GUARD is Sergeant Gerry Boyle. He’s the law in the Connemara region of Ireland…not that that requires a whole lot of work on Gerry’s part. Most days he can sit back and wait for the problems to come to him…and even then, he tends to only want to deal with them begrudgingly.
When an international drug smuggling ring is suspected of working in the area, the FBI sends an agent over to lend support to all local authorities. The agent, Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), doesn’t take too kindly to Boyle and his thick-headed nature at first, but when Boyle reveals that part of the drug ring has already been killed in his jurisdiction, Everett is forced to begrudgingly team-up with the Irish sergeant.
The Guard is the sort of film that is destined to fly under the radar for many, and that is a real pity. It brings together elements of buddy-cop films, fish out of water films, and dry Brit Irish humour in a truly wonderful way. The film is razor-sharp, so much so that once or twice you’ll find yourself leaning forward and thinking “Wait…did he just…?”. It’s script trusts its audience to keep up with its quick, deadpan delivery – and if you can’t, it’s not going to wait around for you.
Much of the credit needs to go to the wildly underrated Brendan Gleeson, who here builds on the stellar performance he brought to IN BRUGES in 2008. The quote that opens this article is one that Everett directs towards Boyle during a moment when they’re alone, and it’s amazingly accurate. The manner in which Gleeson plays Sgt. Boyle is one in which you can’t tell if he’s being frustratingly inattentive, or unnaturally patient. This over and above the fact that only he ever really seems to know when he’s joking.
The crazy thing, is that Boyle’s demeanour seems to do a bang-up job at disarming everyone around him – both cop and criminal alike. He just needs to say or do something that seems out-of-place, and he can steer the person’s attention away from their preconceptions of him.
The way Gleeson takes all of those odd mannerisms and pairs them up nicely with Cheadle’s straight man is what gives the film its joy. The two share a great chemistry that plays upon Boyle’s tendency to say to truly outlandish things with a straight face (“I thought black people couldn’t ski”), and Cheadle’s refusal to take the bait and sink to the level of someone he thinks is an idiot.
The one hitch to THE GUARD, which may or may not throw a viewer off, is the way in which the dialogue doesn’t feel the need to wait up for the viewer. Taking Cheadle out of the equation, much of the script is delivered through fast-talking, thick Irish brogues. The absurd discussions go back and forth with the frenetic pace of a final match at Wimbledon, and some viewers could be left confused as to what the characters are talking about. In my screening, it felt pretty clear that most of the meagre audience assembled wasn’t following what was being said…but there was also one guy in the back corner who followed it all, and laughed heartily at most of it.
He must have been Irish.
So if that sounds like the sort of thing that would throw you off, perhaps wait until the film hits blu-ray and you can rely on the subtitle feature. But do track down THE GUARD and give it a spin. It’s the sort of film that we really need right about now, something to cleanse the palette after a summer of being force-fed franchises. It’s a film that relies on the comedic timing of its cast, and a clever script to entertain audiences looking for “something more”.
First let me say, CONGRATS on your new site, Hatter, looks smashing! Sorry I’ve been absent so I didn’t know you’ve moved, but I’ll be sure to update my blogroll to your awesome new site. I think you’ve done more than ‘dream a little bigger’, you’re living the dream 😀
I haven’t seen The Guard but I’ve been reading all the positive reviews. I’ll definitely rent this when it’s available on Netflix.
Welcome to The New Matinee Ruth!
Glad you like what I’ve done with the place, and do make sure you start dropping by as it’ll go into full-on festival mode later this week.
Loved THE GUARD almost as much as I loved IN BRUGES. Sadly, subtitles won’t help if you didn’t catch the dialogue because it will still be flying by pretty quickly. How long does it take you to read subtitles? You’d better be a fast reader.
If you haven’t yet seen the amazing Brendan Gleeson’s work in John Boorman’s underseen THE GENERAL (1998), check it out. Also, a little harder to track down is his turn as gangster Bunny Kelly in Paddy Breathnach’s I WENT DOWN (1997), but it’s another great “buddy” crime film.
I’d love to see him team up with Dublin novelist Roddy Doyle for something in the future. He would have been great in the roles Colm Meaney played in THE COMMITMENTS, THE SNAPPER and THE VAN.
(Welcome to The New Matinee buddy!)
I haven’t seen either of those films you’ve mentioned, but I’ll be sure to track ’em down once this TIFF madness dies down.
Subtitles for this sort of thing are an odd animal. I’ve never really needed them, but I know some people who have trouble with accents and the subtitles can make the difference between catching the subtle jokes and being lost.
Subtitles in general vary wildly for viewer to viewer, just thought I’d make the note for those who might get more from it by being forewarned.
I really enjoyed THE GUARD, it’s funny and the performances are stellar. I wish Cheadle had been given more to do, but I enjoyed seeing Gleeson totally propel the film. You’re right, the script does throw its audience off, but I liked that about it!
I’m glad both films I’ve bothered and nagged you to go see (The Guard and Beginners) … you’ve enjoyed.
Now, any luck on “Adventureland” – good or bad?
Admittedly better – probably up to a three from a two.
I had to stop reading to post a comment –
“Dry BRIT humour”?!?
o.O
Since when has Irish and British humour been synonymous? Mr. McNeil??
Irish humour is only influenced by British humour in as much as Canadian comedy is influenced by American comedy. While I haven’t seen this film yet, I’d hazard a guess that any Irish-isms that are inevitably present could not translate to the English countryside, and therefore the humour in those situations could only be called “Irish” and should never be confused for “British”, “English”, “Scottish”, “Welsh” or in anyway “U.K.ish”.
I suggest you correct this article before more damning eyes fall upon it!
[/Bród Éireannach]
Better now?
Much. Thank you, ;-P
I think the IN BRUGES comparisons hurt my enjoyment a little, as they made me expect more than this film is. But it is consistently very funny, and Gleeson is excellent as usual. To me, the hitch that you pointed out was actually a big plus for the film…frankly, this didn’t really feel like a movie. There were no “pause for laughs” moments…people just spoke. Reminded me quite a bit of a Coens’ film in that regard (although maybe the funny accents were just conjuring up images of FARGO).
There’s trace amounts of similarity between BRUGES and GUARD, but anyone who sold it on those similarities is doing the film a disservice.
As for that hitch, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the film, but I can think of a few people who might not catch everything that’s being said – which is a pity since so very much of it is gold.
Oh man…a Coens film set in Ireland…what a delight that would be!