Veronica Guerin (2003)

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

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers:

Carol Doyle (story), Carol Doyle (screenplay),

Stars:

Cate Blanchett, Ciarán Hinds, Brenda Fricker

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Based on a true story, this is about the Irish journalist Veronica Guerin (Cate Blanchett), a reporter for The Sunday Independent, who exposed some of Dublin's most powerful crime barons and drug lords in 1996. But later that year she was gunned down by assasins hired by the same criminal drug lords she exposed.

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Plot Keywords:

irish | journalist | veronica guerin | drug lord | assassination | 

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Taglines:

Why would anyone want to kill Veronica Guerin?

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some drug content

Details

Country:

Ireland UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chasing the Dragon: The Veronica Guerin Story

Filming Locations:

Dublin Airport, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$611,276 (USA) (17 October 2003)

Gross:

$1,569,918 (USA) (28 November 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Persevere Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jodie Foster was originally in talks to play the lead.

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Goofs

When Veronica Guerin is telling Tattooed Boy about Eric Cantona she says his birthday is 26 May 1966. It is in fact 24 May 1966.

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Quotes

Veronica Guerin: It'll be worse for me, and it'll be worse for journalism or any journalist if they were to be intimidated, then that means they've won, and they're not going to win.

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Crazy Credits

Disclaimer in closing credits: "Chris Mulligan is a fictional composite character based in part on several different people, and certain events in which the character is depicted have been fictionalised for dramatic effect."

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Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

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Soundtracks

"Everlasting Love"
Written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden
Published by Peter Maurice Ltd Co Ltd
Performed by U2
Courtesy of Universal-Island Records Limited
Licensed by kind permission from the Film & TV Licensing Division, Part of the Universal Music Group

User Reviews

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.