Guard, The

Ireland 2010, 95 minutes
Dir. John Michael McDonagh
Rating: [R13]
Genres: Suspense, Comedy / Policier

Feat. Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Liam Cunningham, Mark Strong

“Crisp, acid-tongued and sharply acted.”~Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Aroview: A straitlaced FBI agent (Cheadle) and a raucous Irish cop (Gleeson) buddy up to take down an international drug smuggling ring in this riotous action-comedy from the brother of IN BRUGES writer-director, Martin McDonagh.

Brendan Gleeson is placed front and centre to hilarious effect as the lovably dodgy small town cop, while Mark Strong and Liam Cunningham ham up their bungling bad guy roles, not unlike the villains in the Comic Strip's Famous Five parodies. For those less familiar with the Oirish patter, subtitles may be required for full appreciation of McDonagh's devastating wit.

NZ International Film Festival 2011