Rating: 
Summary: Good movie
Review: I was impressed by Cate Blanchett's performance even more so how well they cast her into this role. She definitely could pass for a relative of Veronica Guerin or that is what it looked like to me anyways. I went out and read a book about Veronica afterwards and was impressed at how well they covered this part of her life in such a short time. I am still waiting to own it. :)
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping tribute to a Fallen Martyr
Review: If I did not know better before going to see Veronica Guerin, I would have been excused to guess that it was directed by a politically and socially sensitive European director like Ken Loach or Jim Sheridan.
I was quite surprised therefore to know that Joel Schumacher and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were behind such a masterpiece of realism and grittiness,a powerful tribute to that rare breed of humans who will do right by their conscience and are never intimidated even if that means paying the ultimate price. Veronica Guerin,the Irish celebrated investigative journalist was such a person.
The growing unchecked drugs situation that has plagued Ireland, and the tragic scenes she witnessed of young lives lost and the blatant exploitation by gangs, drove her relentlessly to expose the men behind it all.
She meddled as a result with a very sinister and dark world the public at large was seldom aware of, and she paid a very hefty price for her unwanted intrusion.
Yet her death which shocked the nation was certainly not in vain, for it pushed the government and the public to act swiftly for the first time against the drug dealers.It is only a pity that throughout history generally brave people had to sacrifice their lives for any change to occur.
This is the story of the real Veronica Guerin and the film that faithfully tells her story.
The success of the film does not solely rely on how touching, tragic and real the story of Veronica Guerin is and her lasting impact, but also on Schumacher's fine direction,by far his best film since Falling Down: totally sympathetic with his subject yet managing to his credit to avoid the trap of sentimentality such a film would easily fall into.
Credit should also go to producer Bruckheimer,who is a rare breed of his kind ,equally concerned with the artistic quality of his picture as well as numbers and balance sheets.
Veronica Guerin's success also is due to superb acting, especially Gerard McSorley and the wonderful Ciaran Hinds who has such a imposing and charismatic presence on screen..and of course there is Cate Blanchett.
No one could have played the Irish fallen heroine better than her. Her performance is simply awesome, well researched and faithful.I don't know what it is with Aussie actresses and accents..why it is that they always perfect whatever accent they are talking with..From Nicole Kidman, Toni Colette, Naomi Watts, Judy Davis, and Ms Blanchett, who in Veronica Guerin speaks in a flawless Irish tongue.
There are some very powerful scenes in the film that will totally captivate you, especially the confrontation between Blanchett and the mob boss McSorley..it is sudden,shocking,and brutal, one you will not easily forget!
The DVD extras are interesting as there is footage of the real Ms Guerin speaking about the problem of drugs, the threat she received and her pledge never to stop her personal crusade which is as touching to see as the film itself.
Veronica Guerin is a must see film, one that you engage you and stay with you long after you watch it.It is a must buy, a very small and symbolic personal tribute from the viewer to one of those who dared to speak out.
Rating: 
Summary: (In fact 3.5)Superb Cate Blanchett Redeems Unfulfilled Story
Review: If I give four stars to this film, that's simply because of Cate Blanchett. The story of Veronica Gurerin, who was killed during the determined jounalistic jobs about drug business, has been already covered in a thinly disguised version "When the Sky Falls" (with Joan Allen), but to be frank with you, this "Veronica Guerin" could be much better with another director and producer. Why Joel Shumacher and Jerry Bruckheimer? The story is smoothly told, with a good opening sequence, but you can't expect a "bio-pic" in "Veronica Guerrin," in which you are shown not many things that would tell us about the inner life of her. Veronica, writer for the Sunday Independent, begins her crusade against the drug lord in Dublin, who is responsible for the appalling conditions of the life of the kids there. As she goes on, she is threatened by unseen forces, possibly the henchmen of the underworld, but she stubbornly keeps on her course until she meets the inevitable result. Cate Blanchett's superb acting (Golden Globe nominated) almost hides it, but what the film's screenplay offers is treated with Shumacher's by-the-number direction. I really hate the moment, for instance, in which the camera lingers on the bloody crime scene, as if to put emphasis on the tragic nature of the story, in the worst Hollywood fashion. We can easily feel, from Cate's perfect acting (with perfect Irish accent), the magnitude of what she did, and what happened to her. So, why not leave it to her? The villainous acting of Ciaran Hinds ("Persuation") is also great, but his character also suffers from too familiar elements seen in many crime films. These two leading actors are so compelling that you forget and forgive the fact the film fails to explain the inaptitude of the laws and the police (which "When the Sky Falls" showed), the very thing the death of the jounalist ironically revealed to the public. With beautifuly shot locations, "Veronica Guerin" is another showcase for Cate Blanchett's incredible acting talent. (And you get an amusing cameo from the star of "Phone Booth") But after watching it (and that ride was pretty fast), I still couldn't understand why she risked her life, and possibly her family, in order to uncover the story. I still couldn't see why some of other journalists, as this film shows us, while drinking in the bar, tell us that they don't like Veronica or her jobs. Most importantly, why did she act alone when she knows it's very dangerous? There MUST be another story, perhaps a better one, hiding in the answers to these questions. Unfortunately (for me, I say) the director didn't think about that possibilty, even though I know the film is not obliged to do it.
Rating:
Summary: Well, you just know it is not going to end happily
Review: If you get the feeling from the very beginning that Veronica Guerin will be a martyr by the end, you would be correct. It's a true story, and the outcome is never in question.
Veronica Guerin was a driven, dynamic, and dedicated feature reporter in Ireland who exposed the drug trade that had plagued Ireland for years. Cate Blanchett is flawless in this role; her part in this fact-based thriller seems to have been made for her. She's a flawed character, and the movie makes her faults as clear as her attributes. Her husband deserves a medal, she was probably hell to live with.
Anyway, it's a gripping movie, realistically filmed and acted, and the follow-up at the end, showing what happened to the gangsters involved and what laws were passed as a result of the publicity of Guerin's very public assassination, is righteous in every sense.
Exceptional - but painful to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and truly powerful
Review: In 1996, reporter Veronica Guerin was murdered by drug barons she had exposed in the papers. Based on the true story, flawed but compelling, "Veronica Guerin" starts off being merely interesting and ends up being sad and shocking. It follows Veronica (Cate Blanchett) through the last two years of her life (she died in her late thirties). During that time, she stepped into the seedy side of Dublin, investigating drugs and thugs. As a result, her home was attacked and her family threatened. And in the end, Veronica's quest against the drug barons exposed them to the world -- and sealed her fate. There is some question of how much the film and title character were sanitized. It's undeniable that they were. But the story remaining is close enough to the truth to make an amazing movie. It centers on a woman who was not so much brave as she was immune to the sense of danger, determined and focused on her goals. The even, steady tone of the film despite its sensationalistic subjects (drugs and gangsters) is admirable, but it makes things a bit too simplistic and dispassionate. While I wasn't looking for the over-the-top, rather laughable style of "Phone Booth," I did wish that things would get a little faster and rougher. Joel Schumacher certainly stumbles sometimes with his handling of some supporting characters who are misrepresented, and some characters (the unnecessary catty reporters) who are just to make Veronica look better. Blanchett gives an astounding performance, vital and vivid and very magnetic. She doesn't play Veronica as a perfect person; she's an inattentive wife and mother, but I liked her nonetheless. Gerard McSorley is plausibly creepy as Gilligan, and the talented Ciaran Hinds does a good job as well, although I felt he was underused. This film might not have been worthwhile if it weren't for Cate Blanchett, as she brings it fully to life. With her influence, the flawed "Veronica Guerin" becomes a sad, compelling story worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and truly powerful
Review: In 1996, reporter Veronica Guerin was murdered by drug barons she had exposed in the papers. Based on the true story, flawed but compelling, "Veronica Guerin" starts off being merely interesting and ends up being sad and shocking. It follows Veronica (Cate Blanchett) through the last two years of her life (she died in her late thirties). During that time, she stepped into the seedy side of Dublin, investigating drugs and thugs. As a result, her home was attacked and her family threatened. And in the end, Veronica's quest against the drug barons exposed them to the world -- and sealed her fate. There is some question of how much the film and title character were sanitized. It's undeniable that they were. But the story remaining is close enough to the truth to make an amazing movie. It centers on a woman who was not so much brave as she was immune to the sense of danger, determined and focused on her goals. The even, steady tone of the film despite its sensationalistic subjects (drugs and gangsters) is admirable, but it makes things a bit too simplistic and dispassionate. While I wasn't looking for the over-the-top, rather laughable style of "Phone Booth," I did wish that things would get a little faster and rougher. Joel Schumacher certainly stumbles sometimes with his handling of some supporting characters who are misrepresented, and some characters (the unnecessary catty reporters) who are just to make Veronica look better. Blanchett gives an astounding performance, vital and vivid and very magnetic. She doesn't play Veronica as a perfect person; she's an inattentive wife and mother, but I liked her nonetheless. Gerard McSorley is plausibly creepy as Gilligan, and the talented Ciaran Hinds does a good job as well, although I felt he was underused. This film might not have been worthwhile if it weren't for Cate Blanchett, as she brings it fully to life. With her influence, the flawed "Veronica Guerin" becomes a sad, compelling story worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: Happy Tears
Review: It's Rated-R for strong violence and language, but I strongly recommend that high school and college journalism teachers show this film to their students. As a high school journalism teacher, I saw the opportunity to show students a true story about a journalist. That truth-seeking journalists can make a difference. However, I had no idea that after five times watching the movie, I would cry during the whole 15 minute ending each and every time. Through her journalistic techniques and "finding the truth," she did ultimately pay the price for those antics. But the reason why I was so moved with this movie, was the fact that "she" and her "actions" moved the Irish government to change things. So many people rallied to her and for "her" after her death because she fought the people no one else would fight. She sought the truth exposing those who needed to be in the spotlight for their wrongdoings. Two of the most powerful images in this movie, 1) the children playing with the used drug syringes left on the streets and 2) the funeral procession - you would have thought a diplomat had been laid to rest that day, but instead an honest-seeking journalist who was trying to do her job. My newspaper students sat hypnotized by the television for three days while watching this film. They were moved just as I at the end. It brought a lot of discussion afterwards, too.
Rating:
Summary: A Profile in Courage
Review: Joel Schumacher's film "Veronica Guerin" is breathtaking. Its total immersion into the Irish culture and the cinematography make Ireland jump to life. The universal thematic aspects of the film make it a timeless classic: a woman who fights for truth against the odds, the scourges of drugs, the lack of caring for the poor, and the feminist aspect of a female journalist in a man's world. There is so much meat in this film that if it were a meal, it'd be a thick juicy steak. Schumacher's pacing for the film works well. The film told in flashback allows the audience to prepare for the inevitable ending without the despair of tragedy, but with hope engendered by courage and bravery. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Veronica is studied, heartfelt, and on the money. Showing the woman with flaws and all emphasizes the reality of the piece. The DVD sequence of the deleted scene of Blanchett as Veronica receiving an award and then the replay of the real-life Veronica Guerin receiving the same award demonstrates how fine a portrayal Blanchett has accomplished. The Irish supporting cast offer fine performances by Brenda Fricker as the mother, Gerry O'Brien as Martin Cahill, Alan Devine as "the monk," Ciaran Hinds (The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover & Lara Croft Tomb Raider) as John Traynor and Gerald McSorley's chilling John Gilligan. Colin Farrell who Schumacher directed in "Tigerland" & "Phone Booth" has an excellent cameo that is essential to the plot. The biographical nature of the film married to its great theatricality makes this essential viewing for those who like their cinema well done. This is one profile in courage that happened after but could have fit into John Kennedy's book. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: A Profile in Courage
Review: Joel Schumacher's film "Veronica Guerin" is breathtaking. Its total immersion into the Irish culture and the cinematography make Ireland jump to life. The universal thematic aspects of the film make it a timeless classic: a woman who fights for truth against the odds, the scourges of drugs, the lack of caring for the poor, and the feminist aspect of a female journalist in a man's world. There is so much meat in this film that if it were a meal, it'd be a thick juicy steak. Schumacher's pacing for the film works well. The film told in flashback allows the audience to prepare for the inevitable ending without the despair of tragedy, but with hope engendered by courage and bravery. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Veronica is studied, heartfelt, and on the money. Showing the woman with flaws and all emphasizes the reality of the piece. The DVD sequence of the deleted scene of Blanchett as Veronica receiving an award and then the replay of the real-life Veronica Guerin receiving the same award demonstrates how fine a portrayal Blanchett has accomplished. The Irish supporting cast offer fine performances by Brenda Fricker as the mother, Gerry O'Brien as Martin Cahill, Alan Devine as "the monk," Ciaran Hinds (The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover & Lara Croft Tomb Raider) as John Traynor and Gerald McSorley's chilling John Gilligan. Colin Farrell who Schumacher directed in "Tigerland" & "Phone Booth" has an excellent cameo that is essential to the plot. The biographical nature of the film married to its great theatricality makes this essential viewing for those who like their cinema well done. This is one profile in courage that happened after but could have fit into John Kennedy's book. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: "Things can always get worse, Veronica"
Review: Just when the media excessively highlights the wrongdoings of unscrupulous journalists (i.e. Jayson Blair at The New York Times) it is redeeming to know that the entire profession isn't completely stripped of its integrity and morals. In the case of Veronica Guerin the public can have some of their faith restored that there are journalists out there who care to uncover the truth for the benefit of the public's well being. I remember hearing about the execution-style killing of Veronica Guerin on the evening news and my heart ached for this senseless killing. Now with the aid of this film individuals can learn the story behind the life and career of Veronica that ultimately led to her premature death. After witnessing the horrific effects of heroin use on teenagers and children in a rundown housing complex veteran reporter Veronica Guerin decides to refocus her attention on the prevalence of crime in Dublin. Outraged that nobody is covering the drug trade she jumps headfirst into this underground economy and doesn't hesitate to immediately make some powerful enemies. Cruising around in her bright red car through the Dublin streets Veronica fails to back down even after her life is repeatedly threatened and she is brutally attacked. Even the pleading of her family and her work colleagues fail to change her mind. It is encouraging to know that the efforts of Veronica Guerin were not in vain. Her journalistic accounts of Dublin's drug trade and her subsequent unsympathetic murder has resulted in the passing of several laws such as stripping the assets of suspected drug dealers. However, after watching this film I can't help to wonder about the nameless other journalists who have been similarly slain while in the line of duty. Without these brave souls it is discomforting to think of the stories that would not be covered. Recommended.
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