2. Write a review: Film critique of The Guard
A film critique of The Guard
The Guard is a film directed by John Michael McDonagh in
which he tells the story about a middle-aged, vulgar police constable called
Gerry Boyle who receives a new constable in his police force. However, the
arrival of an American FBI agent and the news of a drug smuggling in Ireland
reveals the warmer side of Gerry. By forcing the viewer to laugh at the classic
Irish stereotype, we can look more closely at the social injustices and corrupt
culture which still resides in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. Comments on
race and the treatment of women throughout the film, although laughable, are
extremely shocking and therefore making it easier for us to question what
occurs in our culture.
Something that is immediately
noticeable in the Guard is the dramatic colours throughout the film, from the
bright blue walls and uniform of the police officers and their interrogating
room to the mossy green backgrounds which are present both inside and outdoors
in the Irish setting. Green is clearly
plays a part in Irelands national identity (if you consider its role in the
classic Irish stereotypes such as the Leprechaun and the shamrock) has managed
to creep its way into the film by being the dominant colour of most rooms and
constantly present in the Irish landscape. Furthermore, there are scenes in the
film where a green wall will be surrounded by a warm brown and white or a green
light will be paired with an orange light to reflect the colours of the Irish
flag and celebrate the Irish identity. Additionally, when Gerry is in a
situation where he feels the most comfortable or confident such as the scene with
the prostitutes or in his precinct in which he is the boss, the colours are
mainly green or yellow signifying some Irish pride or perhaps an enjoyment of
what is in his homeland, despite it being quirky.
Colour further helps to create
mood throughout the film, creating a link between the events that occur.
Another featured colour within the film is a royal blue, although this is
mainly associated with the colour of the police uniforms and establishes the
mise en scene, it could be argued that this shade of blue is used to signify a
melancholy change in tone or shift in the story. For example, when the
interrogation happens after we discover someone has been murdered, it shows the
darker side of Gerry as well as creating a link to the drug smugglers in their
journey across Ireland. Additionally, when Gerry goes to visit his mother, she
is normally wearing white but during their last visit she is wearing she is
wearing the same royal blue as the police, so that when we see Gerry packing
her suitcase we immediately know something bad happened due to the solemn
colour that blue possesses.
This is done again with the use
of red, which McDonagh has chosen to represent violence or compassion, for good
or for worse. For example, when Gerry meets one of the prostitutes in the diner
all the booths are bright red helping to emphasise the attack that was
inflicted on the woman as well as the violence which will occur later between
the drug smugglers and the police. Another time this is done, is when the wife
of Gerry’s deputy comes over to his house, wearing a red coat, dress and
tights. From the attack in the previous scene, this colour helps to signify the
oncoming violence that will befall this Irish village.
The dialogue within the film help to reveal
the intentions of McDonagh as he wants to provide the viewer with a sense of
Irish pride as well as questioning the social dynamic that prevails. McDonagh
was lucky to have Brendan Gleeson as Gerry because he can say the most outrages
jokes about race and nationality such as “racism is a part of my culture”
without it sounding offensive but rather it fits into the genre of dark comedy.
Such comments would not be accepted but because of the comedic style we can
easily laugh at the backward stereotype of an Irish citizen whilst being able
to simultaneously question how common such thoughts are still.
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