Veronica Guerin is a moderately effective flashback biography, worth seeing for Cate Blanchett's curious performance (one part fearlessness, two parts foolishness) as the titular expos‚ journalist.
Guerin, Ireland's most recent martyr, jeopardized her family and lost her life for the cause of improved anti-drug legislation. But while Joel Schumacher is an experienced director, he unwisely paints his mostly Irish cast members as either saintly or wicked, thus simplifying and bloating the film. While it doesn't rank among the best biographies, it's just as watchable as Schumacher's last work, the moral play Phone Booth.
Watch for a cameo from that movie's star, Colin Farrell. -- Jeff Levin
