Veronica Guerin DVD > Reviews > Veronica Guerin

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Intriguing story .   Bit of history .
Disadvantages:	Not something to cheer you up .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

****Cast****

Cate Blanchett - Veronica Guerin
Gerard McSorley - John Gilligan
Ciaran Hinds - John Traynor
Brenda Fricker - Bernie Guerin
Don Wycherley - Chris Mulligan
Alan Devine - Gerry Hutch
Gerry O'Brien - Martin Cahill

This film is a true story, based on the life of Veronica Guerin, a journalist for the Sunday Independent who was assassinated in 1996 after her investigations into drug trade in Dublin.

Starting with her assassination the film looks back on the 18 months before her death.

After seeing young children playing in the needle-filled streets of Dublin's slums, Veronica begins to investigate the increasing drug trade. Starting with the children on the estate who have already become addicts, she digs further and further until she has most of the pieces of the puzzle, infuriating the biggest crime bosses as she seeks them out on their own territory. After threatening to expose them she is in turn threatened to keep her mouth shut.

A beating from criminal boss John Gilligan and an assassination attempt on her at her own home does not deter her, despite the pleas of her family, and Veronica continues in her pursuit to expose the dealers and clean up Dublin's streets.

It all ends tragically when she is assassinated in her car after stopping at traffic lights on June 26, 1996.

****Personal Opinion****

I remember seeing the story on the news when Veronica Guerin was killed. Having family in Ireland I think they brought it to my attention, but I was quite young at the time, and other than knowing that she was investigating the drug trade I really wasn't that well informed on the events leading up to her death.

I had one of those "When you rent a Chart title get a non-chart title free" things from Blockbuster and when I spotted this DVD I decided to see what this lady was all about.

The DVD portraits her as a brave, but stubborn woman, and I truly believe she wanted to clean up Dublin rather than wanting "the" story.

Cate Blanchett is very good as Veronica. I think she mastered the Irish accent very well, though the Irish may have a different opinion. Brenda Fricker (Casualty, My Left Foot) always does a great job. I can't say I recognised a lot of the actors in this film, but that is perhaps a good thing.

This is not a happy film, but it is a touching, and sometimes shocking, story of one woman's fight for something she believed in. I can't imagine wanting watch this film numerous times so I would suggest renting it rather than buying, although you can buy it online pretty cheaply (See the end of my review).

****Extra Info****

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Region: 2
Rating: 18
Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic
English - Dolby Digital (5.1)
Viewing time: Approximately 1 hr 35 mins

****Online Prices****

Play.com - £6.99
Amazon.co.uk - £6.97
ChoicesDirect.com - £5.99
Tesco.com - £16.97