Veronica Guerin may look like an obscure indie at first encounter, with its Irish accented, virtually unknown cast (with the exception of Cate (Lord of the Rings) Blanchett in the title role) as they sniff around the gloomy, cancerous drug dens of Dublin to tell the true story of a reporter battling the cartels in the mid1990s. Unfortunately, at closer inspection, it's quite the opposite. If it were an independent, presumably it would have been made by an Irishman, with a fresh, eager newcomer in the lead and the cast and crew would be local Dubliners who care about the story and its cultural significance. The film would have been authentic and meaningful.

Two flags are raised early in the Veronica Guerin experience, and one a bit further in. First we see the Jerry Bruckheimer logo, and after our initial shock we start to sweat as memories of Armageddon, Bad Company, and Con Air still haunt our nightmares. The name Bruckheimer immediately tell us that the movie is looking to turn a profit first and be worthy of our time and intelligence second. After all, this is a man who champions Michael (Pearl Harbor) Bay, possibly one of the most infuriating, simple minded, patronizing hacks ever to say “action”.

Second flag. “Directed by Joel (Phone Booth) Schumacher. Now we are in a bind. The combination of these two men on this type of picture sets the brain aflame with possibilities. Clearly this is Bruckheimer's art picture, like Black Hawk Down was for him last year. He does these types of films either for his r