The Guard (2011)

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 McDonagh

Writer:

John Michael McDonagh

Stars:

Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 17 wins & 27 nominations.

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	...	Gerry Boyle
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	...	FBI Agent Wendell Everett

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.

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Plot Keywords:

number five and a half | shot in the head | riding a bicycle with training wheels | interrogation | drinking from a flask | 

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Taglines:

The FBI are about to discover that things work a little different around here.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, drug material and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Boyle's reference that "the FBI lad probably hadn't had this much fun since they burned all those kids up in Waco" is a reference to the Waco Siege of February 1993, where the FBI led an assault on the Mount Carmel Center ranch. Seventy-six men, women and children, including the sect leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh, died from flames, smoke inhalation, building collapse, or gunfire.

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Goofs

The diner Boyle meets the prostitute in is one of the "Eddie Rocket's" chain. They are joined by Francis Sheehy, carrying a bottle of "Corona Extra" beer. However, no alcoholic beverages are served at Eddie Rocket's at any time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sergeant Gerry Boyle: [red car speeds past his speed trap, tires screech, car crashes]
Sergeant Gerry Boyle: [finds drugs in the pocket of dead teen] I don't think your mammy would be too pleased about that now.
Sergeant Gerry Boyle: [walks aside and swallows one of the pills] What a beautiful fuckin' day.

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Connections

Features The Shout (1978)

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Soundtracks

Ode to Billie Joe
Written by Bobbie Gentry
Performed by Bobbie Gentry

User Reviews

Expect to laugh and cringe at a glimpse of Irishness

The guard is like lethal weapon if it was set in the west of Ireland. Unorthodox police work-yes, disregard for superiors -check, only thing is Sgt. Gerry Boyle has slightly less enthusiasm for action than Officer Riggs.

At times during this movie I had to turn away so no one would see me smiling at the few racist comments, slurs and generalizations. But I wasn't surprised to see behind me, no else in the cinema was holding back the laughter. It seems that it takes a lot for Irish people to find something offensive.

The rest of the characters were enjoyable to watch. They are a close representation of who you should expect to meet if you spend enough time in Ireland and will get you into some memorable 'situations'.

OK so this review is more about Ireland than the movie but I think to enjoy this movie you need to embrace both the story and culture of the country.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Ireland

Language:

English Irish

Release Date:

7 July 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

The Guard

Filming Locations:

Wicklow Harbour, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$76,834, 31 July 2011

Gross USA:

$5,360,274

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,561,904

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reprisal Films, Element Pictures, Hindsight Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1