FilmBuff1994 Veronica Guerin is a great movie with a very well developed plot and a really talented cast. It is a very engrossing film as it pulls us right in to the events of Veronica Guerin, a true story about a journalist from Ireland who made connections with drug cartels in order to publish stories about them. Her life is chronicled beautifully and in a suspenseful manner that has us caring for her and feeling a sense of constant unease as a result of the situation she is in. It does have many by the numbers elements to it, the story is certainly told in a very linear, predictable biography film fashion. Joel Schumacher, as brilliant as he is, does not necessarily take risks, and he tried his best to make this incredibly different story as suitable for Hollywood as possible, instead of telling it in a gritty fashion that would have made it far more enthralling. The cast is top notch, but the crown does, of course, go to Cate Blanchett as Guerin herself. She continues to amaze me with her versatility as an actress, this English woman fit in to a rural Ireland atmosphere effortlessly, bringing her to life in every moment with her breathtaking acting methods. Deeply inmerseful. Well acted and intense, I would recommend Veronica Guerin to anyone looking for a good drama. An Irish journalist becomes involved with drug cartel members in order to publish stories about their business.Best Performance: Cate Blanchett

Spikeopath The assassination of Dublin crime reporter Veronica Guerin in 1996 shook Ireland to the core, her murder saw a public swell of determination to rid the country of its drug peddlers. Joel Schumacher's film is an in depth interpretation of the woman, her beliefs, her family life, her complexities and her stoicism to root out the drug barons putting liquid death into the arms of the many.Thankfully avoiding Hollywood clichés, it's often gritty and well thought out, Schumacher and his writers, Carol Doyle and Mary Agnes Donoghue, don't soft soap the Guerin image, her faults are laid bare alongside her searing strengths. The dangers of her work are very prominent throughout, leading to some suspenseful and fearsome scenes. Cate Blanchett as Guerin is inspired casting, an actress capable of covering all facets of the human condition, and in support Ciaran Hinds, Gerard McSorley and Brenda Fricker give powerful performances. 8/10

Desertman84 Veronica Guerin is an Irish biopic that features Cate Blanchett in the title role.The screenplay by Carol Doyle and Mary Agnes Donoghue focuses on Irish journalist, whose investigation into the drug trade in Dublin led to her murder in 1996.It was directed by Joel Schumacher. Guerin is a relentless crime reporter for The Sunday Independent during the 1990's. The screenplay focuses on her pursuit of the underground drug trade in Dublin, which she suspects is led by mobster Martin "The General" Cahill. When Cahill's gang is attacked, she suspects mobster Gerry "The Monk" Hutch is responsible. Not deterred by threats or gunshot wounds, she uses thug John Traynor as an informer to help out her investigation of psychotic mobster John Gilligan.The film provides us great performances as Blanchett gives a tour de force performance as Guerin. Sporting a perfect Irish accent, she imbues the character great screen presence that we do care for her character.Also,the film was an engrossing thriller despite of an average screenplay that resorted to standard movie plot rather than a character study of the journalist herself.

Lumikinos I was expecting this movie to be much better. Unrealistic, boring, packed with low action tricks, very emotionless as a drama though dealing with such a painful topic. For me this has been the worst and very annoying performance of Cate Blanchett since the Bandits, though she is one of my favorites. Neither do other actors give a impressive performance. There are some good names in this movie, but almost everyone failed to capture by acting. I don't know if the portrayal of the characters was accurate, but their behavior is just so not realistic, as well as some events. The ending is too long and boring, too. I was really surprised how bad this film turned out to be.