American movies are notoriously short on surprises, but that isn’t always the case with global fare.  The Irish film The Guard has several surprises, mostly character-driven, that make it seem fresh and original.  It has the same casually profane tone punctuated by jarring violence as In Bruges, which is only natural considering that The Guard‘s writer-director, John Michael McDonagh, is the brother of Martin McDonagh, who made In Bruges.  And both films feature strong performances by Brendan Gleeson.

Gleeson is Sergeant Gerry Boyle, an independent-thinking cop who cannot turn away when drug smugglers elect to use his small Irish town for their transfer point.  Boyle is a real character — in the most derogative sense of the word.  He’s downright nutty at times, yet retains a sense of integrity that ultimately wins the day.  Gleeson plays Boyle with deadpan ferocity, which is quite hilarious.  Don Cheadle costars as an American FBI agent pursuing the drug smugglers, and who is completely mystified by Boyle’s behavior.  Cheadle simmers nicely but doesn’t add a whole lot to the story; this is Boyle’s show all the way.

As with In Bruges, the film’s main delights are the dialogue and interplay between the characters.  Whether it’s the drug smugglers calmly discussing philosophy before a killing, Boyle baiting the Cheadle character with ridiculously racist remarks or the chatty demeanor of a killer who catches Boyle with his defenses down, The Guard is full of sharp, funny, ironic moments that reward viewers patient enough to listen carefully through heavy Irish brogue.

The only downside is that this movie seems ripe for an American remake a few years from now that will strip away all the singular, individual elements that make it so fresh and original.  Of course, the only remedy for that is to see this version.  I think it’s worth it.  ✰ ✰ ✰.  26 Oct. 2011.