Film Review: The Guard
Ah, the allure of the international film. Perhaps "international" is too loose a term, since the main characters all speak English. Oh yeah, and the stars have been in worldwide blockbusters like the Harry Potter and Ocean's Eleven series. Check the trailer:
Despite your expectations from the trailer, The Guard offers a moviegoing experience you likely won't encounter many other places this fall. Most big screen releases here in America don't allow you to ponder deep ethnic and cultural wounds in a movie that's supposed to be a comedy.
To be fair, the thing was marketed to American audiences as a buddy cop movie with quick one-liners between a country dweller and the straight yankee foreigner, with racist jokes to boot. But the film deals with themes like grief of death, loss, racism (for real), and purpose. Brendan Gleeson is the key here, perhaps you know him as Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter films. He shines with a searingly sarcastic humour that only makes sense set against the backdrop of windswept and lonely western Ireland. He comments on the beauty of his country while stealing drugs; he tries to cheer up his mother that is dying of cancer. The best movies always draw us deeper, because they are reflections of life that we can all relate to.
You'll also learn something about our own culture. "You Americans are always writing books about your experiences." says one young Irishman to Don Cheadle's character.
I definitely apply to that stereotype, because I assume that somehow what I'm going through is worth sharing to the world. Just look at this blog. But it speaks to me in the midst of balancing school, work, ministry with students whose lives are often busier than mine, and relationships. Most of all, I enjoy being invited to laugh in the midst of it all, it's probably the only way I stay sane.
If you see it, let me know what you think of it.
Despite your expectations from the trailer, The Guard offers a moviegoing experience you likely won't encounter many other places this fall. Most big screen releases here in America don't allow you to ponder deep ethnic and cultural wounds in a movie that's supposed to be a comedy.
To be fair, the thing was marketed to American audiences as a buddy cop movie with quick one-liners between a country dweller and the straight yankee foreigner, with racist jokes to boot. But the film deals with themes like grief of death, loss, racism (for real), and purpose. Brendan Gleeson is the key here, perhaps you know him as Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter films. He shines with a searingly sarcastic humour that only makes sense set against the backdrop of windswept and lonely western Ireland. He comments on the beauty of his country while stealing drugs; he tries to cheer up his mother that is dying of cancer. The best movies always draw us deeper, because they are reflections of life that we can all relate to.
You'll also learn something about our own culture. "You Americans are always writing books about your experiences." says one young Irishman to Don Cheadle's character.
I definitely apply to that stereotype, because I assume that somehow what I'm going through is worth sharing to the world. Just look at this blog. But it speaks to me in the midst of balancing school, work, ministry with students whose lives are often busier than mine, and relationships. Most of all, I enjoy being invited to laugh in the midst of it all, it's probably the only way I stay sane.
If you see it, let me know what you think of it.
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