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DVD Review
Veronica Guerin
By Stephen Lucas Published April 20, 2004
US Release: October 17, 2003
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Cate Blanchett , Colin Farrell , Alan Devlin , Brenda Fricker
R
Running Time: 98 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $1,570,000
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Cate Blanchett , Colin Farrell , Alan Devlin , Brenda Fricker
R
Running Time: 98 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $1,570,000
C+
When the film tries ever so hard to work with one?s emotions, there?s a sense of manipulation and showboating involved.
How committed are you to your job? There are those who will stay late on any given night of the week to complete something he or she has not finished, and there are plenty of others who would rather go out and get a drink after work rather than doing so. Veronica Guerin was a real person and one member of the former category; as a dedicated journalist, she did whatever it took to get a story. (It was her job, she said.) The film about her (which banks upon this belief) may not quite do such a figure justice, but it opens a person?s eyes to the darker side of journalism.
This darker side isn?t in the newsroom or on the computer. Guerin (portrayed by Cate Blanchett) fought a battle outside of the office; she was on the streets of Ireland with lowlifes of all sorts before she eventually lost her life. Before writing about crime, she had covered church scandals and other topics of the sort, yet found a passion for this new territory of her writing.
Diving into the drug war, swiftly being ignored on the country?s streets, she interviewed people and got closer and closer to the core of her story, not matter what it took. She was murdered because of her knowledge of the topic and the stories she wrote. Now, there are those who label Guerin was a martyr but in the most honoring circumstances. Though most of what I know of her and her work was taken from what I saw in the film, I?m willing to bet there?s even more I could (and perhaps should) know.
Guerin had been following a gang of drug dealers that dealt to kids on the streets. We?re exposed to the beginnings of her research to the tragic end of them, yet once the film ends I didn?t end up knowing all that much about what she investigated. Although I understand it was a plot device, that doesn?t make the vague story any more justified.
The reason for this, I believe, is that the writing is ironically flimsy and overly sentimental at times. Journalism is a field that demands condensation of facts and opinions, yet ?Veronica Guerin? feels like it?s filled half with story and the other half with filler. I had started watching this movie in hope that it would be worthwhile and well paced. Too often films such as this one (rough yet has a sprawling message) need to stay focused on the story as opposed to getting overly confident in sentimentality.
The whole subplot following her family life seemed totally unnecessary, even though it was probably a big part of Guerin?s real life. The scenes that depict this seem forced and scripted, never moving the audience nor really leading us to buy her fear for her family?s safety. Yet I guess this mindset is implied ? who wouldn?t be scared for endangered family members? lives?
But when the film tries ever so hard to work with one?s emotions, there?s definitely a sense of manipulation and showboating involved. Jerry Bruckheimer produced this film, and even though I?m not a big advocate of downing his films (only because they?re his films), ?Veronica Guerin? makes it clear that drama isn?t its strong suit. Jerry, a word of advice: either focus on ?CSI? or do a few more action flicks. Films about martyrs? Maybe not ? to be blunt, Guerin deserved a better biopic than this one, though the film is not necessarily bad.
However, Cate Blanchett does a noteworthy job in portraying Guerin. The Irish accent she adopts is spot-on and I found her nuances to be fitting for the character. What Blanchett does so well in each film she does is becoming the part in all aspects; although her work in ?The Missing? is more powerful and even more daring, her performance in this film is its strongest force.
Although it lacks in a few areas, I?m willing to say that ?Veronica Guerin? is a film worth seeing if there?s an interest to do so. It may not be an exceptional film, but if nothing else, it provides fair insight into the journalism profession and illustrates the spirit of one exceptional journalist. All of us may not be as committed to our jobs as Guerin was, but I?d advise any person to honor her dedication by seeing this film.
This darker side isn?t in the newsroom or on the computer. Guerin (portrayed by Cate Blanchett) fought a battle outside of the office; she was on the streets of Ireland with lowlifes of all sorts before she eventually lost her life. Before writing about crime, she had covered church scandals and other topics of the sort, yet found a passion for this new territory of her writing.
Diving into the drug war, swiftly being ignored on the country?s streets, she interviewed people and got closer and closer to the core of her story, not matter what it took. She was murdered because of her knowledge of the topic and the stories she wrote. Now, there are those who label Guerin was a martyr but in the most honoring circumstances. Though most of what I know of her and her work was taken from what I saw in the film, I?m willing to bet there?s even more I could (and perhaps should) know.
Guerin had been following a gang of drug dealers that dealt to kids on the streets. We?re exposed to the beginnings of her research to the tragic end of them, yet once the film ends I didn?t end up knowing all that much about what she investigated. Although I understand it was a plot device, that doesn?t make the vague story any more justified.
The reason for this, I believe, is that the writing is ironically flimsy and overly sentimental at times. Journalism is a field that demands condensation of facts and opinions, yet ?Veronica Guerin? feels like it?s filled half with story and the other half with filler. I had started watching this movie in hope that it would be worthwhile and well paced. Too often films such as this one (rough yet has a sprawling message) need to stay focused on the story as opposed to getting overly confident in sentimentality.
The whole subplot following her family life seemed totally unnecessary, even though it was probably a big part of Guerin?s real life. The scenes that depict this seem forced and scripted, never moving the audience nor really leading us to buy her fear for her family?s safety. Yet I guess this mindset is implied ? who wouldn?t be scared for endangered family members? lives?
But when the film tries ever so hard to work with one?s emotions, there?s definitely a sense of manipulation and showboating involved. Jerry Bruckheimer produced this film, and even though I?m not a big advocate of downing his films (only because they?re his films), ?Veronica Guerin? makes it clear that drama isn?t its strong suit. Jerry, a word of advice: either focus on ?CSI? or do a few more action flicks. Films about martyrs? Maybe not ? to be blunt, Guerin deserved a better biopic than this one, though the film is not necessarily bad.
However, Cate Blanchett does a noteworthy job in portraying Guerin. The Irish accent she adopts is spot-on and I found her nuances to be fitting for the character. What Blanchett does so well in each film she does is becoming the part in all aspects; although her work in ?The Missing? is more powerful and even more daring, her performance in this film is its strongest force.
Although it lacks in a few areas, I?m willing to say that ?Veronica Guerin? is a film worth seeing if there?s an interest to do so. It may not be an exceptional film, but if nothing else, it provides fair insight into the journalism profession and illustrates the spirit of one exceptional journalist. All of us may not be as committed to our jobs as Guerin was, but I?d advise any person to honor her dedication by seeing this film.
Stephen's Grade: C+
Stephen's Overall Grading: 23 graded movies
| A | 8.7% | |
| B | 43.5% | |
| C | 47.8% | |
| D | 0.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
