"VERONICA GUERIN"
(2003) (Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Heavy	Extreme	Moderate	Extreme
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	Minor	Moderate	None	Extreme
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Extreme	Heavy	Moderate	Extreme

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QUICK TAKE:

Drama: Despite increasing dangers, a reporter digs deeper into the world of narcotics and drug dealers in 1990s Dublin.

PLOT:

It's 1996 Dublin and Veronica Guerin (CATE BLANCHETT) is a tenacious reporter for The Sunday Dependent. For the past two years she's been covering the increasing drug trade on the city streets. Married to Graham Turley (BARRY BARNES) with whom she has a young child, she hates seeing the dealers selling their drugs to kids and has set out to expose the problem.

While that's caught the eye of local cop Chris Mulligan (DON WYCHERLEY) and Parliament member Tony Gregory (GARRETT KEOGH), she's more interested in getting the attention of those she expects are involved in the trade, including Gerry Hutch (ALAN DEVINE), Martin Cahill (GERRY O'BRIEN) and Brian Meehan (PAUDGE BEHAN). Her biggest target, however, is businessman John Gilligan (GERARD MCSORLEY) who's fresh out of prison and none too happy to have a reporter nosing around.

Despite worries from her family, including mother Bernie (BRENDA FRICKER), and a series of threats and warnings, Veronica continues on her quest and hopes to use various sources, including her shady associate, John Traynor (CIARAN HINDS), to nail Gilligan and his cohorts.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or are interested in the real life Irish story, it doesn't seem likely that too many kids will be interested in seeing it.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R

For violence, language and some drug content.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

CATE BLANCHETT plays a tenacious and occasionally foolhardy reporter who sets out to expose the Dublin drug trade and those who run it. She uses some profanity and briefly smokes.

GERARD McSORLEY plays an ex-con and wealthy businessman who's behind the drug trade and isn't happy to have Veronica nosing around his business. He uses strong profanity, threatens her and her family, and even beats her up when she shows up on his doorstep.

CIARAN HINDS plays Veronica's shady associate who seems torn between wanting to help her and trying to avoid Gilligan's lethal temper. He smokes, uses strong profanity and is apparently involved with a brothel.

BRENDA FRICKER plays Veronica's mom who's concerned about her well-being.

DON WYCHERLEY plays a local cop who assists Veronica on her quest.

BARRY BARNES plays Veronica's husband who isn't happy with her working so hard on the story or the dangers involved with doing so.

GARRETT KEOGH plays a Member of Parliament who initially isn't happy with Veronica, her methods or printed story.

ALAN DEVINE plays a man who may or may not be involved in the drug business and is Veronica's initial target.

GERRY O'BRIEN plays a thug and drug dealer.

PAUDGE BEHAN plays one of the local, profane thugs.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

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Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

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OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 43 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, a man is seen in bed with a woman, a young male drug user propositions a woman and man for sex in exchange for money, and some scantily clad strippers are seen.

Violence consists of a number of murders via guns, some with rather bloody results. A man also brutally punches and bloodies a woman who's earlier shot in the leg, while another man has his legs hacked off (we see the bloody results). Some of those scenes and others may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers. The perpetrators, drug dealers and others have varying degrees of bad attitudes.

Various characters drink and/or smoke, while drug dealers and young users are seen, as is drug paraphernalia. Tense family material includes family members grieving over murders in the family. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

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ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

There's talk of drug use and the drug trade growing in Ireland in the 1990s.

We see drugs arrive to some dealers and they then go into the neighborhoods to sell to kids (who we see buying them).

We see young kids playing with used drug syringes on the street and then see many syringes and other drug paraphernalia littering the street.

Veronica interviews many young drug users (kids).

Veronica and Traynor have drinks in a pub.

Miscellaneous people have drinks and Veronica mentions some of her associates getting a pint.

A miscellaneous man drinks beer.

People drink at a Christmas party.

Miscellaneous people drink in a strip club.

Miscellaneous people have drinks.

People have drinks at a racetrack.

A person gives Veronica a glass of liquor after she's been beaten.

John offers to get Veronica a drink but she declines the offer.

Gilligan has a drink.

Traynor has a drink.

Men drink in an alley.

We see a Guinness truck with many kegs on it.

Traynor drinks.

BLOOD/GORE

We see a quick view of a man on the floor, missing his legs (we see bloody/gory stumps and blood on the floor after his legs have just been cut off).

A masked intruder shoots Veronica in the leg, with bloody results.

Veronica drives onto Gilligan's private property and then goes to his door. He comes out and proceeds to punch her brutally and repeatedly (while calling her "c*nt"), leaving her face very bloody.

We see bruises on Veronica's face.

We hear Veronica vomiting into a toilet (from fear).

A man breaks a car window and fires his gun at the driver several times, killing her (we don't see the impact, but do see the bloody results). We then see blood and bullet holes in the back of the driver's clothing as well as some blood on a window.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

The dealers and those who work for/with them all have extreme cases of bad attitudes.

Those who threaten, intimidate and/or murder others have extreme cases of bad attitudes.

We hear that Veronica has numerous parking and speeding tickets, yet continues to speed.

Traynor, fearful for his life, works with and lies for Gilligan.

Some men mock grief at a funeral of their rivals.

We see news about an armored car heist.

Some people sarcastically say that Veronica should have shot herself in the "balls" as that would have been a bigger target than her leg.

Traynor offers Veronica a bribe from Gilligan to drop some pending charges against him.

We see Gilligan kissing a young woman (thus cheating on his wife).

FRIGHTENING SCENES

Scenes listed under "Violence" might also be disturbing or suspenseful to some viewers.

We see a middle-aged man who's bound and gagged in a chair. A local hood approaches, isn't happy with him and says he's going to hurt him. We then see him pull a knife, and the hood's goons struggle with the man who we then hear screaming. We then see the hood and his goons leaving, some apparently wiping blood from themselves (which we don't see). We then see a quick view of the first man on the floor, missing his legs (we see bloody/gory stumps and blood on the floor).

A thug fires a practice shot at something at Gilligan's equestrian center, enraging the crime boss. He then grabs the thug by the hair, throws him to the ground and then holds his gun to the man's crotch.

We partially see a series of planned executions. A man pushes a woman aside and then shoots a man in the head (no impact or blood/gore). Another person is shot in bed (ditto), men struggle with a third and we hear the fatal gunshot, and a fourth is shot in his car (no impact or blood/gore).

After hearing a sudden sound in their home, Veronica's husband discovers a bullet hole in a window (as a threat to Veronica).

A masked intruder pushes Veronica to the floor in her home, aims a gun at her and we hear it click (but nothing fires). He then tries again and this time shoots Veronica in the leg, with bloody results.

Veronica drives onto Gilligan's private property and then goes to his door. He comes out and proceeds to punch her brutally and repeatedly (while calling her "c*nt"), leaving her face very bloody. He then tears open her shirt (looking for a wire).

Gilligan calls Veronica at night and says that he's going to kidnap her son, ride him and murder her.

A man breaks a car window and fires his gun at the driver several times, killing her (we don't see the impact, but do see the bloody results, including the wide-eyed but dead expression of the driver, and at one point the gun is aimed directly at the camera to represent her point of view).

GUNS/WEAPONS

Handguns/Knife: Used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "The f*cking eagle has landed," "For f*ck's sake," "Who's the f*cking genius?" "Keep your f*cking mouth shut," "Are you people f*cking insane?" "Nasty little f*cker," "F*ckers," "F*cking idiots," "Now f*ck off," "Well, f*ck me pink," "None of your f*cking business," "A wonderful f*cking life," "Shut the f*ck up," "F*ck off," "You heap of sh*t," "Why should I give a sh*t?" "Tough sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Broad" (woman), "Dodgy skangers" (or something like that), "Scumbag," "Bollocks," "Wanker," "Bastards," "You're a dangerous little bitch," "Piss off," "Bitch" (said many times), "Pot to piss in," "Scumbag," "You're talking out of your ass," "What the hell was that?" "Idiots," "Where the hell is she going?" "Balls" (testicles), "Moron," "Scared the bejesus out of me" and "Slag" (prostitute).

A hood has some tattoos.

After a man tells Gilligan that the size of his equestrian center is impressive, Gilligan uses "size is impressive" as part of a joke by saying, "Said the nun to the sailor."

JUMP SCENES

The sudden sound of something breaking in Veronica's house might startle some viewers.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

A moderate amount of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

At least 43 "f" words, 11 "s" words, 6 slang terms using female genitals ("c*nt"), 2 using male genitals ("c*ck" and "pr*ck"), 7 bollocks, 1 ass, 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 wanker, 11 uses of "Jesus," 3 of "Oh Jesus," 2 each of "For Christ's sakes," "For God's sakes" and "God" and 1 use each of "Oh God" and "Swear to God."

SEX/NUDITY

A young male drug user asks Veronica and a man with her if either wants to have sex with him, stating that he's cheap.

Traynor is somehow involved in the brothel business.

The camera briefly focuses on Veronica's clothed butt (representing Traynor's point of view).

Veronica comments on a crime figure having kids with his wife's sisters.

There's a brief mention about a box of condoms.

We briefly see a man in bed with a woman who may have been topless (nothing explicit seen) and asleep or passed out on the man.

A hood is forced to strip naked (we only see him from the waist up). He then mockingly asks, "Do you like big c*cks?" and wonders if a woman there is a lesbian.

We see some hookers wearing just bras up top (that show a lot of cleavage/skin).

We see Traynor in bed with a woman (under the sheets and nothing occurring) when Veronica walks in on them. He's mad at her and then says she should leave but then adds, "Unless you want to join in."

Veronica shows a little cleavage.

After a man tells Gilligan that the size of his equestrian center is impressive, Gilligan uses "size is impressive" as part of a joke by saying, "Said the nun to the sailor."

We see some strippers doing their things on poles in a strip club. While they and others are seen in skimpy attire (that shows cleavage, etc.), no explicit nudity is present.

Gilligan tears open Veronica's shirt (looking for a wire) and we briefly see her in her bra.

SMOKING

Traynor smokes at least 5 times, Veronica smokes once (and possibly has a lit cigarette near her twice while working -- we see what looks like cigarette smoke), while a host of minor and miscellaneous characters smoke in many scenes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

We see a grieving widow and other family members at a funeral.

Veronica's husband is briefly perturbed with her about her working so hard and endangering her life.

A mother and husband gets news of the daughter/wife's murder and we then see them and the victim's son at a funeral.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

The real life story behind this film (and the historical accuracy of it in portraying those events).

Reporters who risk their lives to get important stories.

Drugs, users and dealers.

Bernie says that sometimes it's braver just to walk away from bad situations.

VIOLENCE

A motorcycle pulls up next to Veronica's car with two men on it and one breaks her window.

A dealer pushes a kid backwards.

We see a middle-aged man who's bound and gagged in a chair. A local hood approaches, isn't happy with him and says he's going to hurt him. We then see him pull a knife, and the hood's goons struggle with the man who we then hear screaming. We then see the hood and his goons leaving, some apparently wiping blood from themselves (which we don't see). We then see a quick view of the first man on the floor, missing his legs (we see bloody/gory stumps and blood on the floor).

A thug fires a practice shot at something at Gilligan's equestrian center, enraging the crime boss. He then grabs the thug by the hair, throws him to the ground and then holds his gun to the man's crotch.

We partially see a series of planned executions. A man pushes a woman aside and then shoots a man in the head (no impact or blood/gore). Another person is shot in bed (ditto), men struggle with a third and we hear the fatal gunshot, and a fourth is shot in his car (no impact or blood/gore).

Some men mock grief at a funeral of their rivals. That leads to a confrontation and some brief struggling.

After hearing a sudden sound in their home, Veronica's husband discovers a bullet hole in a window (as a threat to Veronica).

Gilligan throws a phone and kicks something in anger.

A masked intruder pushes Veronica to the floor in her home, aims a gun at her and we hear it click (but nothing fires). He then tries again and this time shoots Veronica in the leg, with bloody results.

Veronica drives onto Gilligan's private property and then goes to his door. He comes out and proceeds to punch her brutally and repeatedly (while calling her "c*nt"), leaving her face very bloody. He then tears open her shirt (looking for a wire) and we briefly see her in her bra.

Gilligan calls Veronica at night and says that he's going to kidnap her son, ride him and murder her.

We see a young woman lying on the floor, crying, with evidence of violence around her (suggesting that Gilligan, who's there, beat her up).

A man breaks a car window and fires his gun at the driver several times, killing her (we don't see the impact, but do see the bloody results.

We see some people struggling on the street.

Reviewed October 14, 2003 / Posted October 17, 2003

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