3537. Veronica Guerin (2003)

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, Ciáran Hinds

Director: Joel Schumacher

Running Time: 98 mins

Veronica Guerin is an American/Irish film about the true story of reporter Veronica Guerin, whose audacious efforts to expose the powerful network of drug lords in 1990s Dublin found her at the top of the local mob’s hit list.

A sobering watch that really brings home the importance of free, bold journalism in the modern world, Veronica Guerin combines gripping crime drama with a gritty depiction of the criminal underworld, all bolstered by a magnetic lead performance from Cate Blanchett in one of her most underrated roles.

While it only runs for just over an hour and a half, this film certainly isn’t the easiest watch. It’s a captivating and often exciting thriller, as we see Veronica Guerin push back against the brutal drug lords of Dublin’s criminal underworld, but the film’s main worth comes from its depiction of the shocking events that transpired when Guerin’s inquisitions became too much for the criminals.

Following the true story, this film does a brilliant job at crafting a likable but realistic character in Veronica Guerin, an extremely dedicated, brave and ultimately kind-hearted journalist, but who can’t always stand up to the violent ways of the criminals she’s trying to take down.

As the film shifts from a procedural journalistic drama into something rather more gritty, you begin to understand just how devastating the events that unfold here are not just in the context of this story, but for journalists around the world, who can be threatened with violence or worse for pushing to expose the truth.

With a fantastic, tough-as-nails performance from Cate Blanchett throughout, along with an impressively touching turn from her criminal contact in Ciáran Hinds, there’s a lot of talent on display here which really brings the gravity of this story home.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by Veronica Guerin. By no means an easy watch, the film offers a captivating and sobering display of the limits of free journalism, and the devastating consequences that sadly threaten people pushing for the truth. So, that’s why I’m giving it a 7.7.