Veronica Guerin

Starring:Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, CiarÃ¡n Hinds, Brenda Fricker, Don Wycherley, Barry Barnes, Simon O'Driscoll (II), Emmet Bergin, Charlotte Bradley, Mark Lambert, Garrett Keogh, Maria McDermottroe, Paudge Behan, Joe Hanley, David Murray (VI), Karl Sheils, Barry McEvoy, Gina Costigan, Alan Devine, Gerry O'Brien
Director: Joel Schumacher
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Ireland's most beloved and tragic contemporary hero/martyr gets the Hollywood treatment in the fact-based thriller Veronica Guerin, an average film made recommendable for a fine performance by Cate Blanchett in the title role. The life, work, and assassination of the slain Irish journalist is respectfully chronicled in this gritty, streetwise biopic by director Joel Schumacher, beginning with her 1996 murder (by Irish gangsters) and flashing back to her diligent efforts, begun in 1994, to expose the drug trade that plagued Ireland for most of the decade. Blanchett is flawless in a role that combines passion, courage, and recklessness in a way that doesn't sugar-coat Guerin's character or imbue her with artificial heroics. Unfortunately, Schumacher (who makes room for an unbilled Colin Farrell cameo) and a naggingly unsophisticated screenplay turn Guerin's complex story into a conventionally accessible thriller that sometimes seems too good to be true, which is ironic given that Guerin's story was fictionalized in the marginally better 2000 film When the Sky Falls, starring Joan Allen. Recommendable for Blanchett's performance and two memorably villainous roles for Ciarán Hinds and Gerald McSorley, Veronica Guerin is an adequate tribute that could and should have been exceptional. --Jeff Shannon

Description

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer (PEARL HARBOR) and starring Academy Award(R) nominee Cate Blanchett (1998 Best Actress, ELIZABETH; LORD OF THE RINGS) comes VERONICA GUERIN, the action-packed, critically acclaimed true story about the journalist who risked everything in search of the truth. In the mid-1990s, Dublin was nothing short of a war zone as the most powerful and dangerous drug lords battled for absolute control. But their most fearsome opponent wasn't the police. It was the courageous Veronica Guerin (Blanchett). Balancing home and family against her responsibility to her readers and country, she stopped at nothing to expose them. This suspense-filled and thrilling story will stun you with its power.

Customer Reviews:

Definite Must See-Paudge behan & Cate Blanchett.......2007-03-08

Based on a true story Veronica Guerin will hold your attention and grab your heart from the first. Cate Blanchett is beyond words as she plays the part of reporter Veronica Guerin, the only thing that was lacking in this movie was the small part of Paudge Behan, he should have been cast in one of the leading roles, he is so good and yet so under appreciated. I wish more directors would take notice of his broad range of abilites and cast him more, they are truly missing out. Don't miss this one it is on my, will not get rid of rack!

This movie will change your life........2006-06-30

An old horse trainer once told me "The hardest thing is to find out what the right thing is, but when you find out what that right thing is, the hardest thing is not to do it." This is a moving portrayal center-pinned around a headstrong Irish female journalist who refused to back down from her mission of exposing Ireland's corrupt drug underground in the mid 1990's. A pleasing departure from stereotyped casting - setting is well done and character treatment is deeply explored! The characters in Veronica Guerin are complex and ring truer to life than one might expect. Veronica Guerin is nobly portrayed. Highly recommended.

The Life She Gave, The Difference She Made.......2006-06-26

This review of Joel Schumacher's homage to the martyred Irish journalist is written to honor her on the tenth anniversary of her death.
Cate Blanchett is riveting as the title character, who faces down incredible danger, not only to herself, but to her family as well, as she tries to make her job as a journalist more substantial by reporting on Dublin's growing drug problem, rather than sticking with comparatively minor stories such as church scandals. I feel her performance had more substance than that of Joan Allen's in another film based on Guerin's life.
Brenda Fricker is Veronica's likeable and concerned mother, and the other standout performances are by Ciaran Hinds and Gerard McSorley as Guerin's two main nemeses.
Guerin's tragic end, although foreseen at the beginning can make a viewer reel. But the equally powerful aftermath is noteworthy, too. It was literally and figuratively a case of "getting the Irish up", and the decrease in the drug problem, and the persecution of the drug lords, and the confiscation of their ill-gotten gains.
Perhaps Guerin could be considered the unofficial Patron Saint of journalists. This film magnificently captures the grittiness and terror of the underworld, and Guerin's bravery in facing it.
As Christ left an imprint on the cloth with which Guerin's presumed Patron Saint wiped His face along the Via Dolorosa, so too, did this Veronica leave a powerful imprint upon her country and help change it for the better. The name, "Veronica" means "true image", and she definitely held a mirror up to her countrymen and women and made them see and face up to an unflattering truth about a specific problem in their country. Peace to her spirit, and peace and strength to her widower and son.

Worthwhile look at a little-known crusader.......2006-06-17

Veronica Guerin's murder in 1996 made headlines in her native Ireland, but went largely unnoticed by the rest of the world. However, when the entire world sees this movie, they'll start to understand a little more about what made her tick.

This movie is based on the true story of how Guerin, an Irish reporter, galvanized her country into implementing stricter drug laws and cracking down on drug-related crimes and drug abuse. It spans a period of two years, from Guerin's decision to take down Dublin's drug overlord, to her eventual assassination. (I'm not revealing any secrets - she's shot at the beginning before the movie flashes back). Guerin's tenacious reporting-style - poking, prodding, nudging friends and foes alike - was effective, albeit often treacherous - there had been previous attempts on her life before the final, fatal one.
Not an easy film to watch, but one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Solid True-Story Irish Crime Tale.......2006-05-04

Cate Blanchett has done it again - played someone you can't take your eyes off of, and not because she's a classic beauty but she's just a good actress and plays such intense roles. Here, she's the single-minded outraged Irish reporter out to expose the drug trafficking in Ireland in the mid 1990s. Yes, it's based on a real person, a very real Veronica Guerin, who took her life in her hands with her desire to have this problem taken care off so the kids in her country wouldn't have such easy access to harmful drugs.

According to the film story, the drug problem was ignored or the police were just ineffective in dealing with it, so Guerin goes after the mob as an investigative reporter. Her husband pleads with her to stop, knowing she could easily be killed. The gangsters were tough and realistically portrayed on film. There is no talk-now-shoot-later nonsense. You mess with them, you will pay. That's the message they give Guerin and you'll have to see the film to find out what happened.

Yup, this is an attention-getter from the start and especially with Blanchett in the lead. A good story and highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

For fans of romanticism, Euro script, about those with a big heart
Underrated Kinski film finally hits the USA

The Blonde
Starring: Luca Barbareschi , Siria Betti , Ennio Fantastichini , Giorgio Gobbi , and Florence Guérin
Manufacturer: Vanguard Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005RYA1
Release Date: 2002-01-22

Customer Reviews:

For fans of romanticism, Euro script, about those with a big heart.......2007-06-15

LA BIONDA (1996, THE BLONDE), is an Italian movie but also perfectly
suitable for European tastes and theatres, seeking to capitalize on
Nastassja Kinski who at the time was in her mid-30's and had a proven
track record in drawing large audiences, like any number of big stars
who were at their peak back in the 1980's.

For those viewers who are fans of romanticism on the silver screen,
this is their gig, especially those who have learned themselves in
life or witnessed others who showed a huge heart, idealism, a
selfless dream or infatuation with a woman, idea, dream despite their
human shortcomings, physical handicaps, etc.

In this movie, we Sergio Rubini, (who resembles the French singer
and TV personality Patrick Bruel), plays a student in a clock/ watch
professional repair school, leaving his girlfriend back home, while
he's occupying an empty apartment in Milan for the duration of his
training. Despite walking with a cane, due to a bad leg, Rubini shows
to be an honest, modest, decent, upstanding citizen who is trying to
make a place for himself in this world.

Rubini gets involved in a road accident, resulting in a 48 hour loss
of memory for Kinski, (a pedestrian) who loses her notion of self
identity. As such, she first becomes a close friend of Rubini's by
seducing him, and then a one night stand, as natural impulses
momentarily overwhelm both in their perception of isolation.

The action unfolds convincingly, realistically, with sufficient charm
and suspense to keep the audience's interest alive throughout,
culminating in a car chase, and a gun battle.

The filming is standard fare, professional theatre quality, with a
notable skill in filming night scenes (clear, sharp, impeccable
througout.)

The soundtrack perhaps intentionally or not, is split 50/50, ranging
between at times cheesy 1970's ambience music, with dollar store
grade synthesizer effects, to acceptable saxophone solos and other
accompaniment that throughful and appropriate.

Wishing to maintain her reputation as a femme fatale, and responding
to a segment of the ticket goer's expectations, there are a few
moments in the movie, where Kinski responds to her gangster partner's
libido, the latter having immodest and spontaneous urges.

For those not from Italy, there's quite a bit of panoramic outdoor
shots of Milan, of historical momuments, buildings and its
architectural legacy, with a bit of noon hour downtown modern
traffic, typical of any city of the size of Milan.

From the human point of view, and since Kinski is seen manipulating
her partner, mixing business with pleasure, and secretly preparing a
drug burn, after she recovers her memory, the movie suggests that
it's a fact of life that one's human nature, the underlying,
simplistic, basic preferences, at times romantic ones, are
overwhelmed with rational, intellectual, strategic and monetary
objectives. Repressed feelings also stem from from one's social
upbringing (mores, norms) and educational background. Rubini drives a
Fiat Panda small car, while Kinski drives a BMW, in an expensive
home, in a prime spot in the city. Kinski dumps Rubini for all those
reasons, as she pursues her goal of a big score, on her mark, her
big shot boyfriend.

The audience may appreciate Rubini's character who overcomes his
physical ailment, in a selfless pursuit of his infatuation with his
one night stand, Kinski, to the point of ditching, as he's drawn to
her like a moth to a burning light bulb. I would give 3 stars, if not
for Kinksi's one-trick pony facial expressions and acting, a bit
repetitive.

Underrated Kinski film finally hits the USA.......2003-09-16

After making Revolution with Hugh Hudson and Al Pacino the great Nastassja Kinski virtually disappeared from American film until her comeback in the mid 90's with the amazing duo Your Friends and Neighbors and One Night Stand.
Throughout the late 80's and early 90's she appeared in several interesting and worth seeing European films that received little or no American distribution. The Blonde is one of the best ones and it's great to see it on DVD here.
Kinski is truly wonderful here and it's highly recommended to any of her fans or fans of European film in general.

Average customer rating:

Definite Must See-Paudge behan & Cate Blanchett
This movie will change your life.
The Life She Gave, The Difference She Made
Worthwhile look at a little-known crusader
Solid True-Story Irish Crime Tale

Veronica Guerin [Region 2]
Starring: Cate Blanchett , Gerard McSorley , Ciarán Hinds , Brenda Fricker , and Don Wycherley
Director: Joel Schumacher
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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