|
The Guard (2011) 7.3
Ratings:
7.3/10 from 51,788 users
Metascore: 78/100
Reviews: 124 user | 248 critic | 29 from Metacritic.com An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is partnered with an up-tight F.B.I. agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring. Director:John Michael McDonaghWriter:John Michael McDonagh |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: The Guard (2011)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Calvary
(2014)
Certificate: 14A
Drama
Director:
John Michael McDonagh
Stars:
Brendan Gleeson,
Chris O'Dowd,
Kelly Reilly
In Bruges
(2008)
Certificate: 18A
Comedy
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Martin McDonagh
Stars:
Colin Farrell,
Brendan Gleeson,
Ciarán Hinds
Six Shooter
(2004)
Comedy
|
Short
Director:
Martin McDonagh
Stars:
Brendan Gleeson,
Rúaidhrí Conroy,
David Wilmot
Seven Psychopaths
(2012)
Certificate: 18A
Comedy
|
Crime
Director:
Martin McDonagh
Stars:
Colin Farrell,
Woody Harrelson,
Sam Rockwell
Ned Kelly
(2003)
Certificate: 14A
Action
|
Adventure
|
Biography
Director:
Gregor Jordan
Stars:
Heath Ledger,
Orlando Bloom,
Geoffrey Rush
The Second Death
(2000)
Short
Director:
John Michael McDonagh
Stars:
Liam Cunningham,
Michelle Fairley,
Aidan Gillen
War on Everyone
(2015)
Comedy
Director:
John Michael McDonagh
Stars:
Michael Peña,
Garrett Hedlund,
Guy Pearce
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
 |
Ronan Collins | ... |
Young Man in Car
|
|
|
Paraic Nialand | ... |
Young Man in Car
|
|
|
John Patrick Beirne | ... |
Young Man in Car
|
|
|
Liam O'Conghaile | ... |
Young Man in Car
|
|
|
Christopher Kilmartin | ... |
Young Man in Car
|
| Brendan Gleeson | ... | ||
| Rory Keenan | ... |
Aidan McBride
|
|
|
|
Declan Mannlen | ... |
James McCormick
(as Declan Mannion)
|
| Laurence Kinlan | ... |
Photographer
|
|
|
|
Michael Og Lane | ... |
Eugene Moloney
(as Mícheál Óg Lane)
|
| Liam Cunningham | ... |
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington
|
|
| Owen Sharpe | ... |
Billy Devaney
|
|
| Fionnula Flanagan | ... |
Eileen Boyle
|
|
| Wale Ojo | ... |
Doctor Oleyuwo
|
|
| Don Cheadle | ... | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Sergeant Gerry Boyle is a small-town Irish cop with a confrontational personality, a subversive sense of humor, a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes, and absolutely no interest whatsoever in the international cocaine-smuggling ring that has brought straight-laced FBI agent Wendell Everett to his door. Written by Element Pictures
Taglines:
The FBI are about to discover that things work a little different around here.Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
IrelandRelease Date:
23 September 2011 (Canada) See more »Also Known As:
El irlandés See more »Box Office
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$76,834 (USA) (29 July 2011)Gross:
$5,359,774 (USA) (3 February 2012)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
See more »
Written by Matt Dennis and Tom Adair
Performed by Chet Baker
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Boyle states that he was 4th in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, in 1500m freestyle swimming. In the end of the movie Everett says that it's not true, and the photographer kid replies: 'It's easy to look up'. In the 1988 Olympics the 4th place in this event was won by an American named Matt Cetlinski. The other contestants mentioned were real: two Germans won the 2nd and 3rd place (Stefan Pfeiffer and Uwe Dassler respectively), while the 1st place was won by the Soviet Vladimir Salnikov. See more »Goofs
When swimming in the sea Gerry has no gloves and cold red hands. On emerging from the sea to greet Wendell he is wearing wet suit gloves. See more »Quotes
FBI agent Wendell Everett: You know, I can't tell if you're really motherfuckin' dumb, or really motherfuckin' smart.See more »
Soundtracks
Everything Happens To MeWritten by Matt Dennis and Tom Adair
Performed by Chet Baker
See more »
Greetings again from the darkness. Writer/Director John Michael McDonagh is the brother of Martin McDonagh, who brought us the excellent In Bruges (which also starred Brendan Gleeson). I figured it best to say that upfront because there is no way to avoid comparisons of the two films. Clearly these men grew up in the same house and were trained in a brilliant method of writing dialogue.
Brendan Gleeson delivers a powerful and hilarious performance as a local cop (Garda) in rural Ireland. His Sgt Gerry Boyle is quite an enigma - he gets along great with locals, yet struggles to fit into society. This is never more apparent than when FBI Agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) hits town on a drug smuggling investigation. The key to their relationship is crystallized at the moment an exasperated Agent Everett says to Boyle, 'I can't tell if you are really smart or really dumb'. Of course, I am paraphrasing because the F-word gets literally worn out in this movie. There aren't many lines I can actually quote in print. But the word rolls off Gleeson's tongue as if it's a work of art ... especially in conversation with his ailing mother, played well by the always terrific Fionnula Flanagan.
The international drug smugglers being chased are a trio led by Liam Cunningham and the always interesting Mark Strong. The endless rips, insults and jokes are fired rapidly at Americans, Brits and anyone unfortunate enough to hail from Dublin. Boyle uses his Irish background as a crutch for his racism and insensitivity. But he leaves no doubt about his expertise as a cop. Heck he even recognizes the importance of some 9 year old kid riding around on a pink bicycle. That's just another example of the off-center approach to story telling offered by McDonagh.
If you are a fan of In Bruges, Snatch, or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, I think you will enjoy this one. It falls just short of that level, but not by much. Gleeson is outstanding and the story is simple enough, yet with plenty of twist, turns and hilarity.