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Movies Forum Index » Movie Reviews Forum » Review: Veronica Guerin (2003)
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| Author |
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| Robin Clifford |
 Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:40 pm |
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"Veronica Guerin"
In the mid-1990s the streets of Dublin became a
battlefield with the city's drug lords vying for
territory to hawk their deadly ware. Veronica Guerin
(Cate Blanchett), a leading journalist in Ireland,
turns her attention toward the growing problem that is
spreading like a cancer and begins to author scathing
exposes that brings the drug lords, known as the
General, the Coach, the Monk and other such monikers,
to national attention. But, fearless though she may
be, the plucky, dedicated journalist is not invincible
in director Joel Schumacher's docu-drama, "Veronica
Guerin."
This story of the irrepressible reporter of the title
joins the rank of dramas about the life and times of
other journalists in such films as "All the
President's Men," "Salvador" and "The Killing Field."
While "Veronica Guerin" isn't in the same league as
these films it does represent a solid telling of the
dedication, bravery and intestinal fortitude of one
reporter who, naively believing in the protective
shield of being "press," went head-to-head with the
most brutal and ruthless of the drug hierarchy in
Ireland. It is a fight she can't win and, as we learn,
makes the biggest sacrifice.
The film begins as it will end with Veronica facing a
judge for her thousand plus parking tickets and
numerous speeding violations. To her incredulous
surprise she is let off with only a (big) fine and in
possession of her precious driver's license. She
speeds off, calling everyone she knows on her cell
phone to break the good news. Meanwhile, a pair of gun
toting thugs on a motorcycle takes chase and catches
up with her at a traffic light. As Veronica, talking
to her editor and oblivious to the danger, turns to
look at her pursers, the passenger pulls a gun and....
Time jumps back a couple of years and Veronica is
entering the dregs of Dublin's neighborhoods where
used heroin syringes litter the street and are
playthings for the little kids who must grow up in
such squalor and danger. She tries to get one of the
addicted denizens to grant her an interview and reveal
the source of the drugs that plague them. Her pleas
fall on deaf ears even when she observes the drug
dealers leaving their marketplace in brand new
Mercedes. Veronica learns from a local ant-drug
activist parent the chilling statistics of death in
their streets due to heroin addiction. She is resolved
to make the public aware of the problem and force the
government and police into action.
There is a price for this evangelic desire to rid the
streets of drugs and its sellers and Veronica forms a
relationship with mobster John Traynor (Ciaran Hinds),
known in his world as The Coach. John is enamored with
his notoriety and the attention of the pretty reporter
and plays a game with her, dropping false tidbits of
information that implicate another drug lord, The Monk
(Alan Devine). But, in John's shady world, discretion
is more important than treachery, and his talks with
Veronica come to the attention of John Gilligan
(Gerard McSorley), the top drug kingpin who lives like
an Irish laird, raises horses and will beat a person
to death with his bare hands if crossed. Veronica,
confident that she is invincible, is not prepared for
the sudden, brutal response that Gilligan is capable
of when she tries to interview him.
"Veronica Guerin" is by the numbers as it depicts the
near saint-like title character going through her
day-to-day grind for truth, justice and the Irish way.
The screenplay by Carol Doyle and Mary Agnes Donohue
(from Doyle's story) takes a typical
show-the-tragic-ending then build the story to that
end, a la "Silkwood." It is a sound way to tell a tale
and Schumacher does a yeoman's job doing so.
Cate Blancett is a bit too bright and bubbly in the
role of a character who takes some pretty hard knocks
getting her story - she is shot, at close range with a
big gun, as a warning; and, she is brutally beaten
when she confronts Gilligan at his manor, without
witnesses. As the story progresses, I would expect an
edge of cynicism and caution to enter Guerin's
character but Blanchett plays it with an upbeat,
optimistic air to the very end. The actress is fine in
her character but it is not her best work.
Supporting cast is capable and the members give solid
perfs. Irish actor Ciaran Hinds is, for once, playing
an Irishman and, even with his own accent, has the air
of the charismatic celebrity as the Coach. Gerard
McSorley is chilling as the ruthless Gilligan who will
stop at nothing, literally, to protect what is
"rightly" his. His sudden beating of Veronica is
shocking in its unexpected abruptness.
Techs are, as you would expect in a Jerry Bruckheimer
production, are top rate.
I don't see any Oscars looming on the horizon but
"Veronica Guerin" is an interesting docu-drama, well
told, and deserves a look just to see what one person
can do to change the world. I give it a B-.
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
robin@reelingreviews.com
laura@reelingreviews.com
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X-RAMR-ID: 36012
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1206823
X-RT-TitleID: 1126398
X-RT-SourceID: 386
X-RT-AuthorID: 1488
X-RT-RatingText: B- |
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