The Guard

The Guard offers an offbeat take on a genre without skimping on the violence or gunplay.

Although The Guard is primarily a language romp, it's also a terrific showcase for veteran pug-faced character actor Brendan Gleeson.

Brendan Gleeson is a blooming marvel.

The film is foul-mouthed and not without its flourishes of violence but it's irresistibly likeable (and unpredictable).

Boyle is probably the first screen hero in a long time whose heroism comes out of boredom and ennui. He gives nihilism a good name.

Augmenting a smart, witty screenplay is magnificent Scope camerawork by Larry Smith, using beautiful locations around the west coast of Ireland.

There is no analytical framework to guide audiences towards a hollow understanding of raw talent. Gleeson's charisma is built-in, like all legendary performers, and this is most evident when his characters behave despicably.

Gleeson has rarely been better or been given such a showcase for his talent.

Flipping the street cop and well-to-do dynamic of 'Beverly Hills Cop' on its head, Cheadle's uptight Yale graduate is suitably stuffy when plonked in the Irish countryside.

The Guard offers just over 90-minutes of excellent escapism and guaranteed hilarity that is still worth seeking out even a decade after its original release.