Veronica Guerin (2003)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers (WGA):

Carol Doyle (story)
Carol Doyle (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Why would anyone want to kill Veronica Guerin?

Plot:

An Irish journalist is assassinated by drug dealers she wrote about in a series of stories.

Plot Keywords:

Journalist | Veronica Guerin | Drug Lord | Drug Dealer | Reporter

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 19

2:00 AM

USA

Cast

Cate Blanchett	...	Veronica Guerin
Gerard McSorley	...	John Gilligan
Ciarán Hinds	...	John Traynor
Brenda Fricker	...	Bernie Guerin
Don Wycherley	...	Chris Mulligan
Barry Barnes	...	Graham Turley
Simon O'Driscoll	...	Cathal Turley
Emmet Bergin	...	Aengus Fanning
Charlotte Bradley	...	Anne Harris
Mark Lambert	...	Willie Kealy
Garrett Keogh	...	Tony Gregory
Maria McDermottroe	...	Geraldine Gilligan
Paudge Behan	...	Brian Meehan
Joe Hanley	...	Eugene 'Dutchie' Holland
David Murray	...	Charles Bowden

Also Known As:

Chasing the Dragon: The Veronica Guerin Story (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some drug content.

Runtime:

98 min | USA:92 min

Country:

USA | Ireland | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:15PG | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #39463)

Filming Locations:

Dublin Airport, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Composer Harry Gregson-Williams heard a boy (Brian O'Donnell) singing on the street for money in Dublin when he arrived to spend a few days on the set of the film. Later, he tracked the boy down again and recorded him singing six or seven folk songs acapella in a quiet alley. Gregson-Williams chose "Fields of Athenry" from the recording and added his own music around the song.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Traynor meets with Veronica on a pier in Dublin, he parks his car right behind Veronica's car, between two small pillars. When their meeting is over, Veronica drives away, which should be impossible because the exit off the pier is completely blocked by Traynor's car and the pillars.

Quotes:

Veronica Guerin: You'd do the same. If you saw those kids on the street, you would do the same.

Movie Connections:

References Mary Poppins (1964)

Soundtrack:

Fields of Athenry

Good but not great

What a woman she was! Let's start off with good points. I think this movie had a great cast. I think everyone was perfect. The problem probably comes with the filmmakers being American. I'm an American so I think I'm qualified to say this. Sometimes you need to be from the same culture to understand subtle and cultural things that are not evident to the naked eye so to speak. The movie somehow doesn't delve deep enough for us to understand why Guerin takes these incredible risks. Perhaps we should have learned more about her background to understand this unflinching courage she had. It may have also been beneficial to make the underworld figures she encounters more layered. Either way, it is a good introductory film to this incredible woman. Perhaps a homespun filmmaker can make another movie about her. I reiterate that I thought the casting was terrific! Cate Blanchett is one in a million. I felt her performance was oscar caliber.