The Guard

- Directed by John Michael McDonagh

Having enjoyed Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, I was initially sceptical upon settling down to watch John Michael McDonagh’s The Guard. This scepticism quickly dissipated as the pairing of Brendan Gleeson’s unorthodox Garda and the straight-edged professionalism of Don Cheadle’s FBI agent was bordering genius in this thoroughly entertaining (and oft-hilarious) drug smuggling crime caper with Spaghetti Western influenced payoff. With its dark humour and central performances, particularly those by the aforementioned and the three Henchmen (led by Liam Cunningham) The Guard surpasses In Bruges. And here comes the Calvary, reuniting McDonagh and Gleeson, and adding Chris O’Dowd and Aidan Gillen.

Rating ***