Fighting the war on drugs

Veronica Guerin

Starring Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley and Ciaran Hinds…

Veronica Guerin

Starring Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley and Ciaran Hinds

Directed by Joel Schumacher

“Veronica Guerin” tells the story of the Irish journalist’s investigation into the rising problem of heroin use in Dublin in the ’90s. Beginning with small-time dealers and working her way up through the ranks, Guerin finally blew the top off of such drug lords as John Gilligan. In the process, she made enemies – she was shot in her home, beat up during a confrontation with Gilligan and, ultimately, killed. Guerin’s death made her a martyr to the Irish people and led to constitutional reforms and an increased awareness of the drug problems of Ireland.

The question the movie attempts to answer is: why did Veronica Guerin choose to act when others remained silent? Was she extraordinarily brave? Reckless? Was she afraid for the future safety of her own child? Was she merely too stubborn to back down? What motivates such an individual to act without regard for their own self-interest? Why was she driven to change the world?

Unfortunately, the answer can’t be found in director Joel Shumacher’s (“Phone Booth”) version of the story. While we gain from Cate Blanchett’s performance a sense of Veronica as a woman – we like her; she’s brave, funny and loving – there is no indication as to the motivating force that drives her pursuit for truth and justice. While many aspects of her character seem to contribute to her motivation, no single trait seems strong enough to propel her to act as she does. There is some bravery, compassion and recklessness in each of us. We, as viewers, want to know what made Guerin different; Schumacher shows us how she was the same.

Blanchett (“Elizabeth”) turns in a wonderful performance as the title character. Charismatic and elegant, she allows us to see the many roles played by Guerin and the precarious balance between values and family duties that led to her untimely death. She is at once cocky and unsure, reckless and dedicated. Blanchett, with perfect Dublin accent, charms the audience and the characters on screen.

Also strong are the portrayals of criminals John Gilligan and John Traynor by Gerard McSorley (“Angela’s Ashes”) and Ciaran Hinds (“Road to Perdition”), respectively. McSorley’s Gilligan is a drug-dealing crime boss with a serious abhorrence for the press. On the surface, the man is quiet. But through McSorley’s portrayal of Gilligan’s violent spurts of rage, the audience has no doubt that he is a dangerous man. Traynor, on the other hand, is more ambiguous – his lust for fame leads him to be an informant for Guerin. We meet him first as a friend, and though we later realize the questionable nature of that friendship, Hinds’ performance allows us to sympathize with him throughout the film. Colin Farrell also appears in a pointless, but entertaining, cameo as Tattooed Boy.

Superb acting powers this reality-based drama, but it can’t help Shumacher’s limited vision for the story.

“Veronica Guerin” opens in theaters Friday.