Movie Poster

Fuck off to America with your “appropriate”, fucking Barack Obama!

# Review

This film has one of the worst movie posters ever and I was initially reluctant to watch it because of the poster. They say never judge a book by its cover as this film is a real hidden gem despite the bad marketing.

Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) of the Gardaí (Irish police) is tasked with investigating a murder with occult symbols while his path crosses with that of FBI Agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) who is investigating drug traffickers. The two then take part in a buddy cop plot to uncover the mystery.

While Cheadle’s strait-laced Everett makes for an excellent foil, Gleeson’s Boyle is the star of the show for me. Boyle is brash and crass and has very little care for much except his ailing mother Eileen (Fionnula Flanagan). I love how casual Boyle is in every situation and with everyone. The film feels like a Western, filled with a John Wayne-like Boyle and even having a Western-sounding soundtrack. The supporting cast, which includes names such as Liam Cunningham and Mark Strong also make decent supporting characters.

The film is an Irish comedy which means the humour is pitch-black and often offensive, which is hilarious. The Irish accents also make everything funnier. I especially like when Gleeson’s Boyle cusses (which is very often). The man makes swearing an artform.

# Conclusion

The hidden gem of a film with great writing and a great performance from Gleeson.

# Overall rating: 8.2

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