Sunday 1 February 2015

The Guard (2011 John Michael McDonagh & scr)

Texasville was a difficult act to follow. I was reaching for one of those hard-to-remember Douglas Sirk titles (Imitation of Life, to be precise) when my eye fell on this little gem.

From brother of writer-director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), film about culture clash between American agent Don Cheadle and wayward Irish cop Brendan Gleeson (who's absolutely terrific) is mordantly funny. McDonagh even writes the bad guys as intelligent, philosophical and witty murderers (played by Mark Strong, who if not for Gleeson would have stolen the film, Liam Cunningham and David Wilmot). With Fionnula Flanagan and Mícheál Óg Lane.

Very smartly directed too. Shot by Larry Smith.

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