The Guard

Dir: John Michael McDonagh

2011

****

2011's The Guard deserved every bit of the praise it received on it's release. John Michael McDonagh and Martin McDonagh could be the new Ridley and Tony Scott, although totally different, the new Coen Brothers, although independent or the new Mark and Jay Duplass, only a hell of a lot better. It's easier to state the truth and that is that there is no one else like them making the films that they make. The Guard is darkly dramatic and incredibly funny, it shouldn't really work but somehow it does. It also has a Sergio Leone style Western feel about it, something that other film makers have parodied within a different and similar genre but have not really succeeded at (Hot Fuzz comes to mind, not the same type of film but close but not as good). The script is brilliant ("I'm Irish. Racism is part of my culture.") and there are several great scenes that will become quotable classics in no time. It may turn out to be a cult film, much like In Bruges has become but greater success will come, I've got no doubt about that. The 'Brain Freeze' scene is easily one of the funniest scenes of 2011.