Veronica Guerin (2003)

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

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:

A daily Irish newspaper recently reported that Portlaoise prison (where John Gilligan and Brian Meehan are incarcerated) screens the movie at least once a month in the prison common hall at the request of the prisoners.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the epilogue, it is claimed that in an emergency Parliament session, the Government altered the Constitution. This is inaccurate for two reasons. Firstly, no such amendment of the Constitution occurred. Secondly, when an amendment is made, the Government alone does not have the authority to enact it: it may only propose such amendments to the people, in the form of a referendum.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Soundtrack:

Everlasting Love

Veronica Guerin, crusading journalist

Veronica Guerin is the kind of journalist I could never, ever be, if I choose to go into that field in the future. She was determined, ballsy, hard-nosed, a risk-taker, and instilled with a bravado that bordered on irrationality. This movie is based on the true story of how Guerin, an Irish reporter, galvanized her country into implementing stricter drug laws and cracking down on drug-related crimes and drug abuse. Veronica Guerin paints her as a modern day Joan of Arc - misunderstood by peers and politicians while she was alive, but made a martyr and heroine after her death. It spans a period of two years, from Guerin's decision to take down Dublin's drug overlord, to her eventual assassination. (I'm not revealing any secrets - she's shot at the beginning before the movie flashes back). Guerin's tenacious reporting-style - poking, prodding, nudging friends and foes alike - was effective, albeit often treacherous - there had been previous attempts on her life before the final, fatal one. It is this that critics pick on in their reviews: Guerin's almost insane tendency to provoke known criminals and gangsters to the point of immediate danger to herself and her family. While it would be somewhat implausible if this were a fictitious story, the story of Veronica Guerin is a true one. Having not read her biography, I have no idea how much the filmmakers have embellished on it, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. With the picture they painted of Guerin, as well as Cate Blanchett's wonderful portrayal of her, I believe that Guerin, in her passion-fuelled moral crusade, would have been that compulsive, and ultimately, that heroic.

As much as I loved the story of Veronica Guerin, crusading journalist, I have some bones to pick with the technical aspects of the movie. One is with the director's tendency to suddenly go into "Blair Witch Cam," or hand-held cam, for those of you who haven't been nauseated by that movie. It's intended to give the movie a documentary feel, but the sudden switches to from fixed to hand-held cams just leave me dizzy. Another problem I had, though a smaller one, was with the schmaltzy-ing of certain scenes, especially the last one, where Celtic songs are played in the background. While I understand the reverrence intended and the relevance of playing Celtic music, I couldn't stop images of the Titanic and Sarah McLachlan (I don't know either) from appearing in my head. A suitably solemn, well-composed, non-Celtic piece would've been much more preferable. But that's just me. 9/10