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Veronica Guerin | Year: 2003 Classification: Drama Directed: - Joel Schumacher Actors/Actresses: - Cate Blanchett - Ciarán Hinds - Brenda Fricker Sticking out a tongue at evil men Four and a half stars, actually.<BR> <BR>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. Modern Day Heroine There are few actresses in the world that can take on just about any role they choose. Cate Blanchett is one of them. "Veronica Guerin" is a true tale of a no-nonsense Irish reporter that will go to any length to bring the truth out. In this case, it is exposing drug dealers in mid-nineties Ireland. Veronica is abrupt and sometimes abrasive, but always the professional. Only the criminals around her can emphasize how courageous her commitment is to tell the truth by their vicious threats. Blanchett always brings a vitality and truth to every role she plays, and to be honest, this film would have failed without her work. It is an ordinary story, all too well known in the world, but Veronica Guerin is unafraid and nearly unstoppable. That is what makes her an unusual person in a world full of murderers and drug traffickers. Joan Allen played the role of Veronica Guerin in 2000's "When The Sky Falls". It's also a great film with fine acting, but not as well crafted as Schumacher's Hollywood version. The director and writers commentaries are typical, but the rare footage of the real Veronica Guerin addressing the 'Committee to Protect Journalists' is priceless. Shumacher's done worse Guerin has good acting, but it is a little too slow. The story is interesting, but drags on. I had to put on subtitles because I didnt understand the Irish accent. Sticking out a tongue at evil men Four and a half stars, actually. 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. Buy Veronica Guerin at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Veronica Guerin Search with the Priority Search Engine on Veronica Guerin This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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