Weve been talking, back at the office, about what genre The Guard falls into.
How would you describe it?
And its sold as a buddy-cop comedy, but do they even like each other?
Im not sure, you know.
So it doesnt really fulfil that remit to me, its just a straight up black comedy.
I hope people going in expecting that, and theyll get something more.
Thats the best way to see it.
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There are elements of a western in there too, though, arent there?
One, its the landscape I wanted that widescreen, anamorphic, bleak landscape.
[Sgt Gerry Boyle] is a sheriff in a small town, pottering away.
And one day the villains ride in, and he has to deal with them, in aHigh Noonsituation.
He sees himself as the hero in a Sergio Leone western.
But they were fine about it.
They were, like, we love Ennio Morricone.
I hate little gems.
I never go to see little gems.
Theyre just shit movies, basically.
[Laughs]
Its like when they go, Its wryly amusing.
That means you didnt laugh.
Or, It was poignant.
That means a little kid cried.
[Laughs] I just didnt want to do those sorts of films.
Especially with people he thinks have power over him.
He really wants to undermine them.
He just doesnt think that way.
Some people could take that the wrong way.
Some reviews have referred to him as a racist character.
But hes not he says things to each individual person that he thinks will attack them the most.
Thats what hes trying to do pick at him.
What he believes is something different.
Youre keeping people on their toes, in a sense, about what he really does believe.
But he doesnt mean the race one.
Youre walking that line.
Youre going up to the edge of an abyss, and youre trying to keep from tottering over.
I thought, especially in America, thered be more people walking out or getting offended.
Yeah bitterness, contempt.
The same sort of film, one after another, and theyre not very good.
You think, how did they get funded?
Where did they get the money from, for these types of movies?
So yeah, thats where it all came from.
Whereas, in all these screenwriting workshops, would that character ever be created?
Characters are supposed to have arcs, arent they?
Theyre supposed to learn things.
Now, thats the thing!
Hes going to say the same shit at the end as he did at the beginning.
There is no learning curve.
And also, the buddy element are they friends at the end?
I always like the end ofDown By Law Tom Waits, John Lurie.
[Thumbs nose]
And you realise, no, they really dont like each other.
Just because youve been through the wars with someone, it doesnt mean you like them.
Thats what we were getting at in the film.
But on the page, people read it, and just saw it as a big, funny comedy.
They didnt see the other elements that could be brought into play.
So we got a really big response.
We basically shot a first draft, and got Brendan and Don attached.
Once we had them, we were in a bit of a position of power.
So we were in a really strong position at that point.
After years of struggling, it all fell into place.
Its very strange how it happened.
I was so disappointed.
But then you realise that they dont know more than you do, and they dont have common sense.
Then, the next step is, if they dont, why dont I just make it myself?
So fair play to them.
It got a little bit heavy in the edit, when everyones sending their notes in.
But while we were shooting, no one ever gave me any trouble.
It was quite a pleasant shoot.
Its a basic thing of starting a scene later, and ending it quicker.
I thought it was amazing, but no one else thought it was amazing or funny.
I said, But itsLawrence Of Arabia!
and theyd just go, Huh.
No one would get the reference.
Those long takes, that kind of thing.
It was learning that kind of stuff.
Tightening the film up.
We didnt cut very many scenes maybe one or two from the entire film.
That was the main thing, just finding trims that would make the scenes quicker or funnier.
God knows whatll happen on another film, but hopefully Ive learned my lesson on this one.
Yeah, its calledCalvary.
Its about a priest whos tormented by his community.
Itll have the same black humour, but itll be more of a straight ahead narrative.
A straight ahead drama.
Hopefully well be shooting that in late summer next year.
Plus Ive got things coming in from America, so I dont know whats going to happen there.
Some of the things I get sent arent very good, but some are quite interesting.
John Michael McDonagh, thank you very much.
The Guard is out in the UK on 19th August.
