The Guard (Irish film with Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle)

Mickeroo · 21-08-2010 12:55am #1

Anyone heard about this film The Guard. It's out next year, was filmed in Connemara and stars Brenadan Gleeson as the titular Guard(Garda) who is teamed up with Don Ceadle's FBI agent to investigate a drug ring in the wesht. This could be so good if it's done right or it could just be the usual cliche's and stereotypes pandering the the US market. Fingers crossed though!

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/

21-08-2010 1:04am

Gardai are walking stereotypes. And so are people from the west of Ireland

Mickeroo · 21-08-2010 1:18am

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Gardai are walking stereotypes. And so are people from the west of Ireland

You from Dublin?

Dermighty · 22-08-2010 1:53pm

Don Cheadle...miserable whining bastard in every movie I've ever seen him in.

Brendan Gleeson...really cool actor.

Chad ghostal · 23-08-2010 7:15am

Dermighty wrote: »

Don Cheadle...miserable whining bastard in every movie I've ever seen him in.

Brendan Gleeson...really cool actor.

very true..

Not entirely optimistic about this, the plot from imdb does not help:
"An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is teamed up with an uptight FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring."
Sounds like every half assed cop movie in history.. (as well as some not so half assed

)

..and Mark Strong is in it, what are the chances he's the (English) leader of the drug smuggling gang?:rolleyes:

Still, I hope my scepticism is unfounded Brandan Gleeson ftw!

fontanalis · 22-01-2011 2:17pm

Not the bets review (style/content wise) bit sounds like it could be good.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48190

Phony Scott · 22-01-2011 3:13pm

Yep, this is one I'm very much looking forward to. Every lead role Brendan Gleeson has been in, film or television, he has been excellent, even in utter dross such as 'The Tigers Tail'. I hope he someday finds his 'Silence of the Lambs' like Anthony Hopkins, who had been around for years, but really hit it bigtime after that.

JP Liz V1 · 22-01-2011 11:02pm

It is being shown at the Sundance Film Festival

Basq · 23-01-2011 7:19pm

Clip..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhmpSbKpI-Y

Cantona's Collars · 23-01-2011 11:39pm

Got a good review over on AICN.Could be worth checking out,I like Gleeson.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48192

Different review from the one posted earlier.

Elessar · 24-01-2011 12:08am

A film with Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle and Mark Strong?

Yes please!!!

Thanks for the heads up OP!

Soby · 24-01-2011 5:40pm

Any release date? Cant seem to see one?

Basq · 24-01-2011 5:42pm

Soby wrote: »

Any release date? Cant seem to see one?

Nope, it'll be on the Facebook page when it's announced.

Holybejaysus · 24-01-2011 6:43pm

Gleeson really is the best actor to come out of Ireland, IMO. His mannerisms are just so believable. With a lot of other actors, you just know they are acting, if you know what I mean. They don't seem like everyday people you would meet, they come off slightly contrived.

Gleeson just seems so natural and real life. Even that picture of him above, he looks exactly like a guard should. Not all pretty boy handsome, just world weary and weather beaten.
Well done that man.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 24-01-2011 7:36pm

Some of this was shot mere hundreds of metres of where I live. Interesting to see how my charming little hamlet will look on the silver screens with the mewvie starrs etc.

MagicMarker · 24-01-2011 7:42pm

basquille wrote: »

Clip..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhmpSbKpI-Y

Ha, that looks brilliant. Is it supposed to be a comedy?

drunkmonkey · 24-01-2011 7:47pm

This looks really good, hope it's a comedy. That clip is comedy gold.

Outkast_IRE · 24-01-2011 8:02pm

good clip , hope its not the best scene though !!! will have to check this out.

Soby · 25-01-2011 1:15am

any new links.that ones gone

delbertgrady · 25-01-2011 12:30pm

Depending on who's distributing it, this could easily turn up at the Dublin Film Festival.

Decuc500 · 25-01-2011 1:03pm

delbertgrady wrote: »

Depending on who's distributing it, this could easily turn up at the Dublin Film Festival.

I reckon they'll show it. We'll know later today when the programme is launched.

The Maverick · 19-05-2011 3:21pm

Took this link to the trailer from the Emergency Services forum, thanks to redsurfer for finding it. Released on the 8th of July.

http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0516/theguard.html

Kur4mA · 19-05-2011 9:27pm

LOL, this looks like a classic in the making.

marclechef · 20-05-2011 10:26am

The Guard will be premiering 6th of July in Ireland and will be screening at edinburgh next month

My Brothers' & 'The Guard' Join Edinburgh Film Festival Lineup

Mickeroo · 20-05-2011 11:41am

Looks pretty good i have to say!! Seems like its been ages since there was an Irish movie with international appeal.

allanb49 · 20-05-2011 9:41pm

anyone know how to get tickets to the premiere

Duggy747 · 21-05-2011 1:59am

I've been waiting for news on this and will be watching it when it comes out but, good gravy, that trailer doesn't seem to do it great justice.

One thing that got me straight away was when Gleeson said to Cheadle:

Gleeson: "I only thought black people were drug dealers...."

*cue Cheadle's mouth opening*

Gleeson: ".....and Mexicans"

*exact same footage of Cheadle opening mouth*

Tiny gripe but can't wait to see it. Can't go wrong with Gleeson.

Arcee · 25-05-2011 12:04pm

A new Web-only version of the trailer just went up today....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_kJ3d1vqs4

Jimmy Garlic · 08-07-2011 3:53am

Why the fup did Don Cheadle lower himself?. The man is an epic actor that is way above pay day jobs like "The Guard". Mildly entertaining scheisse, nothing more.

TerrorFirmer · 08-07-2011 3:59am

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Why the fup did Don Cheadle lower himself?. The man is an epic actor that is way above pay day jobs like "The Guard". Mildly entertaining scheisse, nothing more.

Entirely agreeable. As much as I enjoyed the guard, I found that Don Cheadle was its redeeming grace, without him it would have fallen flat, and one would have to wonder at its credibility without said actor. Truth, its no intermission, not even close, though the presence of "oscar" does redeem it somewhat.

Jimmy Garlic · 08-07-2011 4:44am

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Entirely agreeable. As much as I enjoyed the guard, I found that Don Cheadle was its redeeming grace, without him it would have fallen flat, and one would have to wonder at its credibility without said actor. Truth, its no intermission, not even close, though the presence of "oscar" does redeem it somewhat.

I thought Gleeson was lazy in his role and the usual suspects got sweet pay checks. After seeing it the only one besides Don Cheadle that deserves praise is Liam Cunningham.

Sad Professor · 08-07-2011 1:27pm

Last 3 posts moved from Film Reviews.

blaa85 · 08-07-2011 9:20pm

I was delighted with it, I thought it was a great laugh.

ollaetta · 09-07-2011 1:07pm

By and large, some good laughs. A bit corny in places but you'd expect that. Loved the kid but the storyline with the mother was, for me, a bit out of place.

Not sure why but I thought that the scene where

Pat Shortt went to the back of the VW for the boot rather than the front

was a mistake that was left in because it worked (a bit like when Johnny the Lips fell off the Honda 50 in The Commitments).

Phony Scott · 09-07-2011 3:40pm

A massive disappointment, I tittered here and there, but didn’t laugh.

The writing tried way too hard to be sophisticated and postmodern where the drug barons talk about Nietzsche for no real reason or where one of them (the English guy) berates two bagmen for counting money. But it’s utterly pointless.

Other bits of the film didn't add up or didn’t have any pay-off for example, what was the point of having the Croatian girl in the film? She added nothing to the story. What was the whole marriage thing about? Why was she even upset if it was a marriage of convenience? Why tell the audience that the cop was gay? What was the point of the weapons cache? How did the little kid find them? What was the point of having the IRA in the film other than to have a cheap gag about MI5, which, by the way, noone at the screening I saw laughed at?

I’m flummoxed how this film is getting brilliant reviews. Brendan Gleeson is on autopilot and nobody else stands out, with the exception of Don Cheadle, who is excellent as always. In Bruges was a masterpiece compared to this muck. 4/10

johnny_ultimate · 09-07-2011 5:26pm

Yeah can't say I was too fond of it either. It was pretty up itself at the best of times, having pretentions the writer/director was unable to live up too. For every funny moment, there was a ludicrously pointless subplot - especially the romantic one which was beyond a joke.

I liked the ending was fun, but overall a mediocre film that thinks its far better than it is. And actually thought Cheadle was pretty bland in it - doing his best with a limited role, I guess!

Travel is good · 09-07-2011 6:01pm

I'm just back now from the film, brilliant! I thought Brendan Gleeson stole the show. Some great classic one liners-

Don Cheadle - "Do you want to see a photo of my baby?"
Brendan Gleeson - "No, I don't want to see it!"

Criminal 1 - "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a sociopath. They told me that in Mountjoy."

Criminal 2 - "What's the difference?"

Criminal 1 - "I don't know!"

MagicMarker · 09-07-2011 6:12pm

Exactly what I want, to read the one liners on the internet before I see the movie.

Dyr · 09-07-2011 8:46pm

Pointless, pointless film, Liam Cunningham and Mark Strong did good jobs, Don Cheadle was doing his best playing out of position. Brendan Gleeson had some horrible dialogue but he didn't look like he was arsed anyway.

Mr E · 09-07-2011 8:53pm

Well acted (particularly Cheadle, Cunningham and Strong)
Some of the dialogue was a bit laboured (mainly Gleeson's).

Good fun, though - really enjoyed it.

OutlawPete · 09-07-2011 11:01pm

Great stuff if you have managed to avoid the trailer (as I did) but on seeing it (the trailer) today, I can imagine that it somewhat spoiled some of the best parts. Would like to have seen more of Fionnula Flanagan in it, as her character was amazing.

Hank_Jones · 10-07-2011 1:27am

I honestly think that people need to lighten up.
Personally, I thought the film was funny, mostly well written
(if it came across as pretentious, it's because that's the way the McDonaghs write) and well acted all round.

What is wrong with you people?......I could understand if it was completely shíte, but to crap all over a half decent Irish film like that is terrible.

Support the Irish film industry, go see this film and don't listen to the moaners on here.

johnny_ultimate · 10-07-2011 1:48am

Hank_Jones wrote: »

I honestly think that people need to lighten up.
Personally, I thought the film was funny, mostly well written
(if it came across as pretentious, it's because that's the way the McDonaghs write) and well acted all round.

What is wrong with you people?......I could understand if it was completely shÃƒ*te, but to crap all over a half decent Irish film like that is terrible.

Support the Irish film industry, go see this film and don't listen to the moaners on here.

It also seems unfair to let it get away with murder simply because it's Irish

No one said it was awful (oh, one person did) just arguing that we didn't think it was as great as others said. Sensible discourse is only to be encouraged, and yes support independent cinema by all means. But I'm not going to ignore the often crippling flaws of the Guard simply because there's a couple of chuckles and some good ideas. And it's all just opinion.

Hank_Jones · 10-07-2011 2:07am

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Yeah can't say I was too fond of it either. It was pretty up itself at the best of times, having pretentions the writer/director was unable to live up too. For every funny moment, there was a ludicrously pointless subplot - especially the romantic one which was beyond a joke.

I liked the ending was fun, but overall a mediocre film that thinks its far better than it is. And actually thought Cheadle was pretty bland in it - doing his best with a limited role, I guess!

Yeah, you clearly weren't tearing into the film at all, apologies. :pac:

I think that because it is Irish you are all far more inclined to look negatively upon it, self loathing Irish and all that.
Maybe it's the mentality of people when going in to see Irish films or something,
that they don't even give the film a chance and pick at every single thing they see any slight flaw with.

Revolution9 · 10-07-2011 2:19am

I thought this was excellent. Laughed pretty much the whole way through it. Saying that, some of the sub-plots were pointless and remained unresolved. But for comedies, errors like that generally don't bother me. Perhaps I'm just easy to please, but I would definitely recommend this.

don ramo · 10-07-2011 2:23am

saw it tonight, had a nice few laughs up the back of the cinema so we did

jesus it was weird seeing such a strong cast in an irish film, cheadle and strong in particular, strong was halarious, loved the scene

where the guards asked him if all the money was there:D

go see it for a bit of fun,

johnny_ultimate · 10-07-2011 12:24pm

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Yeah, you clearly weren't tearing into the film at all, apologies. :pac:

I think that because it is Irish you are all far more inclined to look negatively upon it, self loathing Irish and all that.
Maybe it's the mentality of people when going in to see Irish films or something,
that they don't even give the film a chance and pick at every single thing they see any slight flaw with.

Only reason I'm critical of films like this is because I want them to do better and improve. Like any film, I think Irish ones should be open to criticism. And yes, there is good about the Guard (check out my review in film reviews for a more detailed look at it) but I also thought the fact that 20-30% of the running time was occupied by subplots that went nowhere is the kind of thing that really needs to be pointed out to have an objective opinion of the film.

Similar to Snap recently, there's tonnes of promise let down by significant missteps from the writer/director. These are people with talent, but they're only to be encouraged into creating the really really good films they have the ability to make!

limklad · 10-07-2011 1:12pm

Best Irish Comedy Film since "The Snapper". I have not laugh so much in a Cinema since then. Brendan Gleeson play the role brilliantly. Don Cheadle was great and the Kid on the Bike with the Dog was best bits.

kippy · 10-07-2011 1:15pm

Really enjoyed this film. Funny, a lot of us laughing at ourselves and some good acting.
Thought it was entertaining and most of the packed cinema I was in seemed to have a good laugh at it.
Gleeson was very good.

Phony Scott · 10-07-2011 2:13pm

Hank_Jones wrote: »

What is wrong with you people?......I could understand if it was completely shíte, but to crap all over a half decent Irish film like that is terrible.

Support the Irish film industry, go see this film and don't listen to the moaners on here.

Calling the film “muck” was going overboard on my behalf, but the ridiculous critical reaction given to the film bugs the hell out of me. The film isn’t as bad as ‘Flight of the Doves’ or ‘Eat the Peach’, but isn’t anywhere near as good as ‘In Bruges’ or ‘Garage’.

According to the poster, it’s got a five star write-up on Empire magazine (its review in the magazine itself pending). After seeing the poster, the cast and the crew involved in the film, my expectations were up there with the latter films and those expectations weren’t met. On paper, this should be an excellent movie, but instead, considering the talent involved, it's below average.

Johnny Ultimate has politely outlined everything else I feel with regards to criticising an Irish film. Unless you can prove to me I’m wrong about the flaws I’ve outlined in the film (and I’ll back paddle like nobodies business if I feel you’re right) then my opinion of the film still stands.

kippy · 10-07-2011 2:26pm

Phony Scott wrote: »

Calling the film “muck” was going overboard on my behalf, but the ridiculous critical reaction given to the film bugs the hell out of me. The film isn’t as bad as ‘Flight of the Doves’ or ‘Eat the Peach’, but isn’t anywhere near as good as ‘In Bruges’ or ‘Garage’.

According to the poster, it’s got a five star write-up on Empire magazine (its review in the magazine itself pending). After seeing the poster, the cast and the crew involved in the film, my expectations were up there with the latter films and those expectations weren’t met. On paper, this should be an excellent movie, but instead, considering the talent involved, it's below average.

Johnny Ultimate has politely outlined everything else I feel with regards to criticising an Irish film. Unless you can prove to me I’m wrong about the flaws I’ve outlined in the film (and I’ll back paddle like nobodies business if I feel you’re right) then my opinion of the film still stands.

The film reviews forum is a couple of forums over.
If you want to pick out all the nitty gritty things that annoy you about the film then I'd suggest a formal review may be more apt.
To the majority of people that will watch this film, the main aim is to watch it and be entertained. That is the main aim of many films and to be honest this one hits all the buttons for the majority of the people that watched it.
That's not to say some people won't like the film.
Calling the film "Below average" is having no appreciation for the amount of films that are released on a weekly basis and the quality of them.....

The Guard (Irish film with Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle)

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