Everyone in Ireland recalls where they were they were when Veronica Guerin was shot on the Naas Road. This was one of the closing comments the Narrator made at the end of Veronica Guerin. The tragedy, grief, and outrage of her death brought about change in Ireland. Irish law was changed so that the assets of suspected criminals - primarily drug traffickers - could be seized. The populace took to the streets to turn out drug dealers from their neighborhoods. None of this would have happened unless Veronica Guerin began asking questions and one man stepped off the back of a motorbike, pointed a gun and murdered her as she sat in her car waiting for the light to turn green. Tragedy, grief, outrage, foment change.
Veronica Guerin isn't a spectacular film, but it is a good film. It's gritty and real. You know from the beginning what is going to happen to her in the end. The film begins with the ending, but stops right before she is actually shot. After this opening, the rest of the film details her work on uncovering the people behind the drug epidemic in urban Ireland. Watch the scene in which Veronica goes to Gilligan's house to confront him. He beats her and calls her a very derogatory name. She just falls to the ground and eventually drives away in terror. No sugar coating the fact the he's violent and dangerous. He is eventually the one who arranges her murder. Nobody shoots the messenger? I guess Gilligan didn't get this message.
I watched this movie with my son Connor. He is 12 years old - just turned on Monday - and I thought that maybe because it was based on a true story, it might be good for him to watch. I was a little concerned that it might be too violent or graphic for him. I admit I didn't screen it first. I think that it was actually a good thing that he saw it. Every parent is concerned about their kid and if he or she will try drugs. I think this was actually an excellent opportunity to show that, whatever you may think about drugs and the effects they have on the human body, you cannot deny the fact that criminals, dangerous ones in most cases, run the industry. Maybe he is too young to understand this now, but maybe when he is older he will think twice before accepting that first "free" sample.
Two final comments on this film. First, Cate Blanchett is an amazing actress. Are you watching Cate Blanchett play a part or do you forget that she is playing a role and begin to see her as Veronica Guerin? A truly talented actress or actor will make you forget that he or she is playing a role. Two of my favorite films that she is in are Elizabeth and The Gift. Second, I picked up this film at the local video store because I love Cate Blanchett and I wanted to see the movie. I will also admit that I picked this over some junky action film because Colin Farrell was pictured on the back cover with Cate Blanchett. Colin Farrell is very sexy, so of course that sealed the deal. To my disappointment though, he was only in one scene. Granted, he looked incredibly gorgeous, but the one scene was it. All you get is one short little scene in which his nameless character talks football - soccer to us Americans - with Veronica Guerin. The best part is when he asks her to "have a pint" with him. Do men actually ask women out in so bold of a fashion? Perhaps they only do that in the movies or in Ireland. (How much is airfare to Ireland?) Allow me to complain for a moment, but my experience over the last 6 years of being divorced is that men are too chicken s*** to actually ask you out directly. Okay, married guys aren't but that's a whole different issue. Single men drop hints and expect you to, oh, I don't know, read their minds and know that what they are really saying is that they want to go out with you. To the single men of the world, the single women of the world are no better at reading minds than you are, so if you are interesting in getting to know us better, just ask. That message goes for the women, too. Now, if I could only heed my own advice. I also realize that very few people will ever read this blog, so my plea for change will go unheard.
In summary, you won't cry desperately during this film - if you like that kind of movie - but you will at least get an interesting story and a fabulous performance from Cate Blanchett. Walk leisurely through the video store and consider giving it glance.
at November 10, 2005 8:46 AM