Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle star in "The Guard," a 2011 Irish film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh.
Gleeson plays Sgt. Gerry Boyle, an Irish policeman. He's outspoken, doesn't mind stepping on toes, likes prostitutes, and has a mother who is dying.
An FBI agent (Cheadle) from Atlanta arrives to find and arrest members of a cocaine smuggling ring. He and Boyle have to work together, and it's an uneasy alliance.
This is a quirky film with both humor and drama that mix well. Underneath all the insults, the two men like and respect one another even while they're driving each other crazy.
All of the acting is excellent, with Cheadle handing in another fine performance as the strict, by the book agent. Fionnula Flanagan plays Boyle's mother, whose son keeps her laughing throughout her illness. The drug ring members are appropriately slimy -- Mark Strong reminded me of Stanley Tucci. Gleeson is perfection as an outrageous cop, raising his hand during Cheadle's speech about the case to the police and saying, "I thought only blacks were drug dealers." The ending is ambiguous, but it works, as does the whole film. I like McDonagh's approach and will be seeking out his other work. His brother Martin was responsible for the film "In Bruges," also with Brendan Gleeson.
Gleeson plays Sgt. Gerry Boyle, an Irish policeman. He's outspoken, doesn't mind stepping on toes, likes prostitutes, and has a mother who is dying.
An FBI agent (Cheadle) from Atlanta arrives to find and arrest members of a cocaine smuggling ring. He and Boyle have to work together, and it's an uneasy alliance.
This is a quirky film with both humor and drama that mix well. Underneath all the insults, the two men like and respect one another even while they're driving each other crazy.
All of the acting is excellent, with Cheadle handing in another fine performance as the strict, by the book agent. Fionnula Flanagan plays Boyle's mother, whose son keeps her laughing throughout her illness. The drug ring members are appropriately slimy -- Mark Strong reminded me of Stanley Tucci. Gleeson is perfection as an outrageous cop, raising his hand during Cheadle's speech about the case to the police and saying, "I thought only blacks were drug dealers." The ending is ambiguous, but it works, as does the whole film. I like McDonagh's approach and will be seeking out his other work. His brother Martin was responsible for the film "In Bruges," also with Brendan Gleeson.