Generally, any film boasting Brendan Gleeson has got to have its’ merits, not because of my own partisanship, or he’s my uncle, or anything like that. It’s purely because he’s one of the finest and most consistent actors around. He becomes an asset to whatever motion picture he’s a part of. In fact, the term ‘under rated’ can still apply firmly, despite the fact that he’s both proven and firmly established himself over the last twenty years. Appearances in box offices smashes are sprinkled amongst the generally adept independent features he regularly involves himself in. Whether it was Gangs of New York, or whoever he was in Harry Potter (I despise all things Harry Potter, utterly indifferent) or as a scarily accurate Winston Churchill, he has constantly riveted viewers attention. My earliest memory of him is portraying Michael Collins in RTE’s The Treaty, and as I got more and more acquainted with the nuances of Irish history through primary school and ye olde Leaving Certificate, I still had Gleeson as the ‘big fella’ enshrined in my imagination, an image and performance I could never shirk. Unlike Liam Neeson. Speaks volumes, really.
Aside from The Treaty, a litany of other quality Irish roles have been a given, where many an impressive performance is turned in. Bunny Kelly in the ‘criminally’ unknown I Went Down was a stellar comedic tour de force. He was also the fulcrum of Six Shooter, the best short ever made by Irish hands, and arguably, one of the finest Irish films ever, full stop. Of course, we couldn’t forget The General either. In films like these he has seemed to be on a crusade to personally hone the character of the entire film, an aim which never seemed to fall short.
So if any film boasting him has its merits, we should really be looking forward to ‘The Guard’ with baited breath then, shouldn’t we? I’m not actually too sure. I’ve watched the trailer multiple times now. After the first viewing, I thought so, but I was clearly sold by the presence of Gleeson, and all the attributes already alluded to. However, the rest of the film might pale into a crushing mediocrity, at a time when we could really do with a big, acclaimed Irish motion picture success. Instead, ‘The Guard’ seems to be veering down a highly undesireable road full of stereotypes, weary paddywhackery and an odourous essence of ‘dere’s more to Ireland ‘den ‘dis’. There’ll be no critics knocking on any doors if this materialises. At the directorial helm is a McDonagh, but alas, its not Martin, but his brother John Michael. Martin McDonagh (although 2nd generation Irish) had emerged as the great white hope of Irish film after the success of In Bruges, and before that, the Oscar winning Six Shooter. Recalling elements of Flann O’Brien and JM Synge, he had carved out a niche of modernising that whacky, rural, surreal and dark humour that was distinctly Irish, yet universally understood and appreciated. Six Shooter was this in a nutshell, with a wild and crazed imagination throughout that was both gripping and oddly alluring. For In Bruges, he clearly made a very delicate transition to a more international setting, diluting this just enough to make it far more palatable for an international audience, yet retain the odd humour, all whilst being driven and revolving around Gleeson. Americans ‘got it’. Job done. I didn’t actually think it was all that and a super sized box of popcorn at the time, but on reflection, the near universal acclaim spoke for itself.
Somehow, I have a feeling The Guard won’t replicate its success. Set in the West of Ireland, on paper it seems ripe for a Playboy of the Western World/Beauty Queen of Leenane esque retelling. The atmosphere seems ripe, and the proverbial stage is set. From the trailer however, all we see is a stream of drug trafficking, prostitutes, and guns, all laced with Gleeson’s hapless local Garda, who’s dialogue seems to revolve solely around some old school backward Irish racism, and the remedial ‘humour’ derived therein. Surely this won’t win us any friends, let alone be funny. If the jokes of that calibre go down like a lead zeppelin, than don’t be surprised to see the box office takings, critical reception and people’s take on good ‘ol Irish racism go down with them.
I’ll have to stop short, as you can’t be overly scathing about a trailer, let alone be allowed to review it. That said, I just hope the opportunity of having Don Cheadle in Ireland, alongside Brendan Gleeson, isn’t hopelessly squandered just for a few cheap laughs that absolutely no one else beyond the shores of our tiny, sparsely populated island will get. Maybe this is just a poor, unreflective trailer. I’d dearly love it to be side splitting, and replicate the international acclaim and success of In Bruges, with such universal appreciation. In fairness, I should really have faith, Gleeson will probably hold the hold thing together anyway, as has been done before, so please go and prove me wrong!
