Brendan Gleeson is in fine form in John Michael McDonagh's wry comedy crime thriller as unorthodox cop Gerry Boyle, whose laid-back small-town life on the west coast of Ireland - lifting drugs from car crash-victims' pockets and popping into town to see his favourite prostitutes - is rudely interrupted when he finds a dead body that's linked to a drug-smuggling ring.
And then straight-laced, urbane FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle) turns up as part of the investigation. Everett struggles to comprehend Boyle's lack of professionalism, confessing that he can't tell if he's 'really smart or really stupid', while Boyle evidently can't be bothered to examine these high-profile crimes appropriately. But as it becomes clear how serious and dangerous the crimes are, they have no choice but to start co-operating with each other.
Gleeson was nominated for the best actor Golden Globe for his performance, and the film received a best screenplay Bafta nomination and an admirable haul of film festival awards.
The Guard is a Film programme that first aired in 2011 and has been classified a 18 certificate.
