The Guard – Element Pictures

Directed by John Michael McDonagh, The Guard is an eccentric and brilliantly dark comedy about Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), a small-town Irish cop with a confrontational personality, a subversive sense of humour, a dying mother, a fondness for prostitutes, and absolutely no interest whatsoever in the international cocaine-smuggling ring that has brought FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) to his door.

“ ★★★★ The Guardian. The brother of In Bruges director Martin McDonagh borrows Brendan for another nicely eccentric crime comedy. ” more

“ ★★★★★ Empire. Among the most purely entertaining films of the year, which cuts its laughter with a dose of Celtic melancholy. It still delivers cop/action requirements - shoot-outs, revenges, daring deeds - and chances are, we'll be quoting lines from this forever. ” more

“ The New York Times. Popping with glorious, bright color and off-color jokes, “The Guard” is an Irish comedy and almost incidental thriller, though mostly it's something of a bait and switch. ” more

“ Evening Standard British Film Award 2011 - Peter Sellers Award for Comedy ”

“ Evening Standard British Film Award 2011 - Best Actor - Brendan Gleeson ”

“ Evening Standard British Film Award 2011- Best Screenplay - John Michael McDonagh ”