Joel Schumacher — the man solely responsible for
destroying the “Batman” franchise — makes an
attempt at atonement with a retelling of the story that canonized
the famous Dublin journalist, Veronica Guerin. Although not
completely forgiven, he lays out a solid path for a road to
redemption.
- Film Reviews
- Diane Sawyer or Mary Sue Coleman? (Courtesy of Warner Bros.)
During the drug wars that consumed Dublin, Ireland, in the late
’90s, those responsible for the narcotics problem were
hamstrung by the restrictive laws of the land. As Veronica Guerin
(Kate Blanchett, “Lord of the Rings: Return of the
King”) travels through the slums, she’s alarmed by the
glaring drug problem, evinced, for example, by children playing
with heroin needles. Deciding she must put an end to this, she
wages a personal quest to expose the problem.
Her path is intriguing, and she has the charm and will to
achieve get what she wants. She works the police, sources and
strangers with ease as she gets closer to the truth. Along her
course, she encounters the typical conflict that occurs with all
protagonists who risk their lives for a greater good, the battle
between family life and her work. Oddly, her family bends around
her devotion, even as it becomes clear that her mission is a death
wish that the drug kingpins will gladly fulfill for her.
Blanchett is convincing as Guerin, clearly portraying the equal
mix of insanity and devotion that allowed her to continue her
investigation after being shot, threatened and beaten. After all
this, she fearlessly and instinctively presses on.
The special features add little with the offerings of a
interview with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and a “making
of” vignette. More background information on the real
Veronica Guerin would have been nice as well. Bruckheimer is
praised far too much in his interview and doesn’t offer much
insight into the story or the movie.
“Veronica Guerin” aims to be all-encompassing, but
with a fairly short runtime it can only brush over her remarkable
personality while sticking with the tale that immortalized her in
Ireland. Although the film was largely missed in theaters, this DVD
offers a chance for viewers to see the conviction of a woman whose
drive made a difference.
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Picure/Sound: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Features: 2 out of 5 stars