I saw The Guard because I was curious as to why Don Cheadle would star in a film with Brendan Gleeson and a number of Irish actors. Cheadle is very selective in his roles and always delivers a thoughtful and convincing performance. The idea of an American/Irish odd couple story could be mishandled by a daft screenwriter but this film must have had something about it to catch Cheadle’s interest.
Most audience member seemed to enjoy the film wholeheartedly. The dialogue was witty, the characters were compelling and the story was memorable. Two disparate personalities, forced to unite in order to solve a crime is an old premise but this is well-executed. As Garda and Federal Bureau of Investigation staff struggle to work together an solve a multi-billion dollar drug smuggling operation, the criminals experience same dysfunctional relationships. At its heart, The Guard is a workplace comedy that dabbles in international crime.
Brendan Gleeson plays Sgt. Boyle, a cynical, pragmatic and sometimes disenfranchised law enforcement officer. He has a good relationship with the local community but they see him more as someone to call when a cat gets stuck in a tree rather than a serious law enforcement officer. Away from the job, he is caring for his ill mother and finding other ways to cope with his non-existent social life. It’s uncertain whether he is merely playing the fool because he is disengaged or a part of the inefficient public sector but he is a good man trying to do his best.
At the same time that Sgt. Boyle discovers a bizarre murder in his jurisdiction, Special Agent Wendell Everett (Cheadle) arrives in the arrive to explain about a suspected drug shipment. When Boyle makes the connection between the two crimes, the pair must work together to solve the mystery. Institution corruption, resentment because of conflict in Northern Ireland and mistrust between the citizenry and public officials complicate the investigation. Boyle’s prejudices and abrupt manner further complicate the relationship between the law enforcement officers. The Guard is a great film which is also a comedy.
Director John Michael McDonagh uses a wide variety of camera angles to showcase the scenery of the province of Connacht. The camera captures Boyle as he goes about his daily duties, without exaggeration or embellishment. A lesser film would have transformed the protagonist into a caricature barely qualifies to serve as a mall cop but McDonagh lets Gleeson tell Boyle’s story throughout the film (It’s a shame that Gleeson and David Thewlis were so brusquely dispatched from the Harry Potter series; they merited memorable death scenes) .
Comedy is at its best when it doesn’t try too much. Continuous laughs over the course of two hours requires subtlety. Multiple comments, little gestures and absurd conversations generate laughs which become funnier as the film progresses. It won’t suit everyone but The Guard is one of the funniest films of the summer. As the locals say, Everett is a fish out of water; Cheadle plays a perfect straight man. Viewers were glad that he made the trip to Ireland. ***½