Brendan Gleeson
“THE GUARD” My rating: B+ (Opens wide on Sept. 2)
96 minutes | Audience rating: R
Brendan Gleeson has always been a great actor, but he’s spent most of his life in supporting roles.
“The Guard” won’t change that, but it should.
This absolutely wonderful film from first-time feature director John Michael McDonagh (who also penned the script) finds Gleeson dominating every second he’s on screen in a role tailor-made for his imposing physical presence and bullish personality.
The movie is a crime saga, a buddy flick, a black comedy…but most of all it’s a terrific character study of a guy we’re not sure we like, but who grabs our attention and won’t let go.
Gleeson here plays Sgt. Gerry Boyle, a member of the Guardia (Ireland’s national police force) stationed on the west coast near Galway.
Boyle is fat, cynical and sarcastic…at first glance he might be the Hibernian equivalent of a redneck Southern sheriff. (more…)
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