Veronica Guerin
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Movie Reviews of Veronica Guerin
Movie Review: You have to ask Why?...
Summary: 5 Stars
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!
Movie Review: A Woman's Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Veronica Guerin a movie like many others based on a true story of criminal activity. Set in Ireland in the mid 1990's about a newspaper reporter that became involved in the drug war. How the events changed what she wrote about, fulfilled her desire to make a difference, affected her family & her country. All these things we've heard before but I was singularly struck by the realism used to tell this one.
I'm not going to discuss the cast. The acting speaks louder than anything I could say.
Crime is a virus that uses the living systems of society to maintain itself & breed others like itself. It mimics our social strata & our financial hierarchy in a deadly parade of life that at times gains a foothold in our respectable world. When it has recreated itself to the point that those not actively participating in crime are willing to accept crime as an acceptable part of society we are on the verge of the chaos that Ireland & Veronica faced in this show.
The reasons people get involved in a fight like this are shown in this movie. The free & often misunderstood flow of information from one to the other side as they try to out manipulate each other is shown here too. When does the story move from a professional project to an unbending challenge? I don't know that answer but I'm just as sure it does. The family, its struggles, the cause & the home butt heads again & again. We have however, as I said, seen this before. Never in this relaxed, realistic, honest & even disconcerting way though. It is the simple honest depiction of what happened during this tense time period that makes this movie stand out from others of its kind. ****SPOILERS BELOW****
In the end we see the great & undeniable good that arises from Veronica's murder & the sacrifice she made. It is rolled down the screen as those that did her & Ireland harm are brought to justice. The people of Ireland come together & force laws to change so law officers can do their job more efficiently. The land most definitely becomes a safer & cleaner place to live. We see the story of evil creating its own foe. A foe willing to pay any price for justice & we need that reminder.
What we don't see is the immediate replacement of those that were jailed by others now wise to the need to hide their activities. They, just like a corporation, replace an executive that dies, retires or moves on. Crime is a virus & mimics real life. The underworld shows here that when it is given an open place in society then it will take the death of a righteous person to stir society to action. They understand that. It's a major reason they want us to wink at their existence. If we leave this movie in celebration of Veronica Guerin's life that is well done, unless we leave it believing she won our battle. She showed us where the battle lies but it is for each age, nation & people to realize the fight is always on.
Let the credits roll & think on that number of journalists killed doing their chosen job in just 6 more years after Veronica's death. 5 stars!
Movie Review: POWERFUL!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Veronica Guerin, an Irish journalist and a woman of courage, was murdered in June 1996, at the age of 36, while conducting an investigative expose of drug lords in Dublin. Apparently Ms. Guerin's interrogatory tactics, investigative techniques and determination threatened her subjects more than the local police. She was shot dead at the wheel of her car by a hired killer on a motorcycle as a result of her persistence in discovering and writing the truth.Director Joel Schumacher's somber and factual bio-film portrays a woman who was determined to rid Dublin's streets of the pervasive drug dealing and heroin consumption so lethal to the city's youth. Ms. Guerin was repeatedly warned by her colleagues, underworld contacts and drug kingpins to back-off. She was shot in the leg and beaten in the line of duty. Her husband and young son were threatened and yet she persisted. Whether she was too reckless, too obsessed, is for the viewer to determine. However, her murder galvanized the Irish people to take to the streets and march against the criminal drug trade. Within a week of Ms. Guerin's death, during an emergency session of Parliament, the government passed a law to freeze the assets of suspected drug barons. The Irish Constitution was amended so that authorities could pursue drug-traffickers more aggressively. A Criminal Assets Bureau was created, as a result of her writing, (and her death), which has been aggressively confiscating money and property suspected of coming from criminal activities. Ireland's first witness protection program was formed to encourage informers to come forward. Her murderer was brought to trial, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Cate Blanchett's gritty performance as Veronica Guerin is outstanding and she is the backbone of the film. Ciarán Hinds, who plays informant John Traynor, does a superb job as he walks the line between the sympathetic informer with a tremendous ego, who is both Veronica's dubious ally and the vicious criminal who finally gives her up. Gerard McSorley excels as drug tzar John Gilligan. His presence is so terrifying and menacing that it's difficult to believe that Guerin did not back down immediately after listening to his graphic threats. I would have left the country after meeting him. Her relationships with other journalists, (those both friendly and critical of her work), the police, drug-dealers and their cohorts, prostitutes, and drug-addicts on the streets of Dublin provide some excellent entertainment and more insight into her feisty character.
This film gives the viewer an exciting and thoughtful glimpse into politics and investigative journalism - just as "All The President's Men" did in the 1970s. Veronica Guerin is one of many reporters who gave their lives, and continue to do so, in pursuit of exposing injustices and crime in our society. This film commemorates the life and career of one woman but does serve to remind us of the many others who walk her path. A most powerful and highly recommended film.
JANA
Movie Review: Powerful, Emotional, & INSPIRING- 5 Stars all the Way!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is simply the best movie I have ever seen in a LONG, LONG time. Seeing the movie made me want to better myself as a person and made me leave the theater believeing in the heroics of everyday people.
Veronica Guerrin is a women that no one in Ireland will ever be able to forget... her courage, heroism, and death led to the change of Ireland's consitution. During the 80s and 70s Ireland was known for it's infamous drug lords, gangs, and drug thugs that virtually ran the streets of Dublin. Veronica Guerrin a well-known reporter for her stories on church scandals decides to take them on... writing about the people who sell drugs and the thugs that push them. Her decision takes a toll on her friendships, her family, and even herself... everyone discouraging her for the simple fact of fear. Veronica's family and friends have every reason to worry when the story is published and Veronica is shot at and recieves multiple death threats. Despite this- she still continues her crusade. Unfornately she ended up dying for her cause. Her death inspired politicans in Dublin to take action and right an anti- drug clause into the Irish constitution. Making this women a true hero for Ireland.
It's amazing the impact of this movie... similiar to movies "Schindler's List" or "Hotel Rwanda" by the end of the movie you will have find yourself totally inspired and want to better yourself and the world around you. The final scene when Veronica was killed I couldn't help but cry... I still cry each time I watch it. It is a story that will stick in your heart long after you watch it...
While many critics claim the movie will go on forgotten people fans of the person and the movie will stand by it. It makes you- wish you could change the world and the amazing thing about it is after hearing Veronica's story is you will believe you can- if you only take the time... With a star cast- Cate Blanchett perfect as ever, stirring music, and powerful story this movie will NOT disappoint! Veronica Guerrin is the perfect movie for anyone on your holiday liist and the perfect movie to own in your collection- after seeing this movie you'll want to watch it more than once! Buy this movie and be simply inspired-
Movie Review: A MODERN MARTYR
Summary: 5 Stars
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.