Customer Reviews

Veronica Guerin [VHS]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite the media's devastatingly misjudged reviews of VERONICA GUERIN the film is so fine that it will survive by word of mouth. Joel Schumacher understands this type of story - in this case a true stroy of an Irish reporter's murder due to her indomitable fight to expose the Drug Lords of Dublin. He makes us face the ugly aspects of the drug underworld and its pitiful victims, yet he also knows how to harness the audience reaction to drive home a point. If anything this film is a fine example, like TRAFFIC, of calling attention to a true international crisis - drugs with the associated greed of those perpetrating their use and the devastating effect on our youth, our citizery, our cities, our future. Bravo to Joel Schumacher for his ongoing drive to make the grimy things public.

But kudos are definitely in order for the entire cast of this film. Cate Blanchett in the title role has carefully studied the woman on whose life this is based and in doing so she is able to give a performance that is deeply felt, sensitively portrayed, and a complete pleasure to watch AND hear! The cast supporting her includes such fine talents as Brenda Fricker, Ciaran Hinds, Gerard McSorley and even Colin Farrell in a tiny cameo role. Farrell's appearance, despite its brevity, has a solid impact and seems more than an homage to Joel Schumacher who gave his his first major role in TIGERLAND.

The cinematography captures Dublin and the countryside of Ireland in all its rainy, grimy beauty and the musical score is hauntingly appropriate. As the public responds en masse to the funeral procession of Veronica Guerin there is a sense of the Argentinian response to the death of Evita Peron - a country paying tribute to a heroine. Give this film a chance, tells your friends to see it - the message and quality of VERONICA GUERIN is that good.

Leaving the theater, after watching Veronica Guerin, you have to ask yourself, WHY? Why did an Irish journalist, who had no experience in investigative reporting, suddenly want to take on the top Drug Lords in Dublin? Why did she push herself so hard and so fast, that she had little time for her husband and six-year-old son? Since Veronica was such a loner, without many friends, and worked out of her home, the WHY quwstion will probably never be answered.

Amazon.com's reviewer wrote "Veronica Guerin is an adequate tribute that could, and should have been exceptional. But he didn't explain how. This is where a wonderful, exciting movie could have been exceptional. Cate Blanchett did a fantastic, Oscar-worthy job in the title role, and it's not her fault that the screenplay did not give her a chance to explain her motives.

Accents are no problem for the rest of the cast, as they are some of Ireland's top-notch actors. Gerard McSorley (In The Name of the Father), as the tough drug trafficker John Gilligan, turns in a stellar performance once again. Ciaran Hinds, as John Traynor (The Coach), is Veronica's chief informant. But can she count on all his information to be accurate? He is working for Gilligan, who is the only gangster Guerin does not supply with a nickname.

An earlier Irish film (2000), on the life of Veronica, called When The Sky Falls, starring American actress Joan Allen, did a slightly better job of explaining her motives, by having them discussed by her bosses at the Sunday Independant, her husband, and to some extent, her son. This movie did not even try, even though it had a great opportunity, with Oscar winner Brenda Fricker(My Left Foot), playing Veronica's mother. Watching their scenes together, you kept wondering when they would discuss her dangerous occupation? But it never came up.

This film is very accurate in using the real names and nicknames of the Drug Lords, and follows the true story of how Veronica's all-out effort to bring down the drug traffickers gets her in so much trouble. She is shot at in her home, and then shot in the thigh, and finally beaten up by drug dealer John Gilligan, who has her murdered, when she exposes him in her paper, despite his warnings that he would kill her if she did.

Other Irish crime movies that lead up to the Veronica Guerin era (1994 to 1996), are The General, starring Brendon Gleason, which I highly recommend, and Ordinary Decent Criminal, starring Kevin Spacey, which is one of the worst movies I have ever seen, so bad that it was not even released to theaters in this country. Both films are based on Martin Cahill (The General), Ireland's most famous regular criminal, who did not deal in drugs, but was interviewed by Veronica, before he was killed by the IRA in 1994.

Veronica Guerin, which I highly recommend, does contain some graphic violence, drug use, and much foul language, which you can excuse, when you know that's just the way they talk in Dublin. It is only 138 minutes long, but should have been longer. Those extra minutes could have been used to explain the Why's!

A very realistic and, from what I have read of her life and murder, an extremely true to life movie. Parts of it are quite violent but then that is part of the realism. Parts of the movie are also very poignant, focusing our minds on the tragedy of the murder of this fine journalist. Cate Blanchett's Irish accent almost had me thinking she was Irish.

Four and a half stars, actually.

VERONICA GUERIN is based on real events. It's the second screen telling of the story, the first being WHEN THE SKY FALLS (2000) starring Joan Allen.

In this version, Cate Blanchett stars in the title role as the Dublin journalist on Ireland's leading newspaper, who takes it as her personal mission to expose the burgeoning drug trade in the mid-1990's. Her stubborn probing brings her onto the radar of some very hard and violent men, in particular one John Gilligan (Gerard McSorley). Guerin persists despite escalating threats and violence to her person. It's a matter of public record that she was gunned down in her car on June 26, 1996 while waiting at a traffic light, the depiction of which assassination is initiated during the first few minutes of the film.

VERONICA GUERIN is a revelation. Call it naivete, but I never suspected that Ireland had such a vicious and violent drug problem. I mean, didn't St. Patrick drive out the snakes?

Cate Blanchett is perhaps one of the very best dramatic actresses in film today. She doesn't just act her role, she becomes one with it. She is the single best reason to see this movie, and the reason that I'm giving 4.5 stars to an otherwise 3-star production. But why not five?

Blanchett's Guerin persona is glamorous, exuberant, witty, and flirtatious - I think I'm in love. However, I've the sneaking suspicion that the scriptwriters embellished the personality of the murdered reporter to make it play better to the audience. If they did, they'd no good reason to have done so since Veronica's two-year battle against drug dealing scum is by itself a front-page story of incredible heroism - or incredible foolishness. Perhaps the world would be a better place had it more of such fools.

I intend to rent WHEN THE SKY FALLS for a different perspective. Joan Allen is another extraordinary talent, but she doesn't have the glamour that might otherwise skew a necessarily gritty and tragic story.

It's a shame that VERONICA GUERIN played in my local theaters for so short a period. Blanchett's performance may very well earn her an Oscar nomination for best actress.

The murder of the Irish journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996 was reported on the main BBC news. For the event to be given that much significance was enough to rouse me into watching my first film in nearly a year. Journalists sometimes dice with death we all know, but they rarely get international recognition for it.

This is the story of years 36 to 38-and-final in the life of a brave, very likely reckless, woman. She saw the effects of the drugs trade, then still a comparatively recent development little acknowledged in official circles, in Dublin and waded in with breathtaking insouciance on the territory of the top racketeers themselves. They put various frighteners on her, and she was duly frightened, but she just seemed to bounce back from everything like a rubber ball. How true to the real personality of this young wife and mother this is I have no way of knowing, but if it comes anywhere near it I can easily understand what may have driven Schumacher to raise this monument to her memory. It really does seem, if the end of film is to be believed, that she largely broke the power of the drugs barons, and virtually single-handedly. She paid the final price for it, and insofar as she can be immortalised Schumacher has tried to do that for her.

The personality played by Cate Blanchett seemed to me rather two-dimensional, although that is more a matter of the script than of the acting. None of the characters is treated in depth, the action is sequential rather than cumulative, and my provisional opinion is that this is at it should be. The story we are given is of a determined but blithe and cheerful young woman moving among a nest of alligators less with heroism than with indifference to the danger, and this is really the story of a chain of events hung around a central character rather than the story of a tragic heroine reacting to the events. Blanchett dominates the screen from first moment to last, the personality she portrays is loveable and magnetic, the supporting acting is lively and realistic, and the film seems shorter than it is. She was lovely to the last, extinguished not decayed.

Just when the media excessively highlights the wrongdoings of unscrupulous journalists (i.e. Jayson Blair at The New York Times) it is redeeming to know that the entire profession isn't completely stripped of its integrity and morals. In the case of Veronica Guerin the public can have some of their faith restored that there are journalists out there who care to uncover the truth for the benefit of the public's well being. I remember hearing about the execution-style killing of Veronica Guerin on the evening news and my heart ached for this senseless killing. Now with the aid of this film individuals can learn the story behind the life and career of Veronica that ultimately led to her premature death.

After witnessing the horrific effects of heroin use on teenagers and children in a rundown housing complex veteran reporter Veronica Guerin decides to refocus her attention on the prevalence of crime in Dublin. Outraged that nobody is covering the drug trade she jumps headfirst into this underground economy and doesn't hesitate to immediately make some powerful enemies. Cruising around in her bright red car through the Dublin streets Veronica fails to back down even after her life is repeatedly threatened and she is brutally attacked. Even the pleading of her family and her work colleagues fail to change her mind.

It is encouraging to know that the efforts of Veronica Guerin were not in vain. Her journalistic accounts of Dublin's drug trade and her subsequent unsympathetic murder has resulted in the passing of several laws such as stripping the assets of suspected drug dealers. However, after watching this film I can't help to wonder about the nameless other journalists who have been similarly slain while in the line of duty. Without these brave souls it is discomforting to think of the stories that would not be covered.

Recommended.

It's Rated-R for strong violence and language, but I strongly recommend that high school and college journalism teachers show this film to their students. As a high school journalism teacher, I saw the opportunity to show students a true story about a journalist. That truth-seeking journalists can make a difference. However, I had no idea that after five times watching the movie, I would cry during the whole 15 minute ending each and every time. Through her journalistic techniques and "finding the truth," she did ultimately pay the price for those antics. But the reason why I was so moved with this movie, was the fact that "she" and her "actions" moved the Irish government to change things. So many people rallied to her and for "her" after her death because she fought the people no one else would fight. She sought the truth exposing those who needed to be in the spotlight for their wrongdoings. Two of the most powerful images in this movie, 1) the children playing with the used drug syringes left on the streets and 2) the funeral procession - you would have thought a diplomat had been laid to rest that day, but instead an honest-seeking journalist who was trying to do her job. My newspaper students sat hypnotized by the television for three days while watching this film. They were moved just as I at the end. It brought a lot of discussion afterwards, too.

In 1996, reporter Veronica Guerin was murdered by drug barons she had exposed in the papers. Based on the true story, flawed but compelling, "Veronica Guerin" starts off being merely interesting and ends up being sad and shocking.

It follows Veronica (Cate Blanchett) through the last two years of her life (she died in her late thirties). During that time, she stepped into the seedy side of Dublin, investigating drugs and thugs. As a result, her home was attacked and her family threatened. And in the end, Veronica's quest against the drug barons exposed them to the world -- and sealed her fate.

There is some question of how much the film and title character were sanitized. It's undeniable that they were. But the story remaining is close enough to the truth to make an amazing movie. It centers on a woman who was not so much brave as she was immune to the sense of danger, determined and focused on her goals.

The even, steady tone of the film despite its sensationalistic subjects (drugs and gangsters) is admirable, but it makes things a bit too simplistic and dispassionate. While I wasn't looking for the over-the-top, rather laughable style of "Phone Booth," I did wish that things would get a little faster and rougher. Joel Schumacher certainly stumbles sometimes with his handling of some supporting characters who are misrepresented, and some characters (the unnecessary catty reporters) who are just to make Veronica look better.

Blanchett gives an astounding performance, vital and vivid and very magnetic. She doesn't play Veronica as a perfect person; she's an inattentive wife and mother, but I liked her nonetheless. Gerard McSorley is plausibly creepy as Gilligan, and the talented Ciaran Hinds does a good job as well, although I felt he was underused.

This film might not have been worthwhile if it weren't for Cate Blanchett, as she brings it fully to life. With her influence, the flawed "Veronica Guerin" becomes a sad, compelling story worth seeing.

CATE BLANCHETT is a marvelous actress, one whose dexterity in playing any kind of role (e.g. THE GIFT), will one day elevate her to the Meryl Streep class of actress.
Cate's overwhelming portrayal of journalist Veronica Guerin is nothing but brilliant, and she was sadly overlooked by Oscar, who usually eats up this kind of performance. Even though she won no award, Blanchett infuses Veronica Guerin with a smoldering passion, a strong sense of commitment and perseverance, and a loving mother and wife, whose actions endanger all of them, but she sticks to it. Cate has so many moments of excellence, one can't really elucidate on them without going on and on; suffice to say, Cate is magnificent.
Director Joel Schumacher leaves his action film techniques behind and crafts an envigorating yet sad film. Blanchett is supported by a tremendous cast: Gerard McSorney as John Gilligan is one of the most vile characters on celluloid and McSorney's performance is frightening and powerful. The scene where he attacks Veronica and beats her to a pulp is one of the most disturbing scenes I've witnessed in a long time. Ciaran Hinds (SUM OF ALL FEARS) is brilliant as Veronica's informant and eventual executioner. One can see how he is torn and yet remains selfish enough to save his own hide. Don Wycherley as police inspector Chris Mulligan hits the right note of being a good policeman and friend to the controversial Guerin; Brenda Fricker in a small role as Veronica's mother is good in a controlled, yet highly emotive performance; Barry Barnes as Veronica's husband is strong, supportive, yet frustrated at the possibility of losing his wife; Paudge Behan as the self proclaimed stud Barry is chilling in a small, yet effective performance; and of course, in a cameo role, Schumacher favorite Colin Farrell plays a tattooed young man whose one brief scene establishes the humanity of Guerin.
VERONICA GUERIN doesn't really give us the whole story, but Cate Blanchett gives us her entire being in a riveting, gut-wrenching performance.
Highly recommended.

I was impressed by Cate Blanchett's performance even more so how well they cast her into this role. She definitely could pass for a relative of Veronica Guerin or that is what it looked like to me anyways. I went out and read a book about Veronica afterwards and was impressed at how well they covered this part of her life in such a short time. I am still waiting to own it. :)