You recently got a green light to direct your first film, an adaptation of Flann O'Brien's 1939 novel At Swim-Two-Birds. But with Boyle it's a ploy: he throws as many bombs as he can, hoping to flush people out and see their true colours. With The Guard, if I thought Gerry Boyle was fundamentally racist I wouldn't do it, unless it was going to explore what was wrong with it. I can kind of understand the argument, and I think it had more to do with the production than the actual writing, but I know it's not true.
I thought that New Yorker accusation was very unfair and off the mark. There are a lot of racist lines in The Guard, too – most of them spoken by your character. Boyle deliberately gives the impression of being dumb so that people underestimate him and leave him alone.Ī New Yorker critic charged Martin McDonagh with racism in his latest play, A Behanding in Spokane. The last really dumb person I've found reading Russian novels was a long way back. It's not a question of whether my character will catch the baddie, it's more a question of: will he bother?Īt one point, Don Cheadle's fish-out-of-water FBI agent wonders if Boyle is really dumb or really smart (though the language he uses is considerably more colourful). People are calling it a "comedy-thriller" but I'm not sure about the thriller end of it. With Martin, you never hate anyone, even if his characters do the most appalling things, whereas John cares less whether you love his characters or not. You can't imagine one brother's character in the other's world. There is a similar palate in terms of humour, but their sensibilities are very different.
Both films are violent, gleefully obscene and packed with movie references both feature amoral Irishmen in the leads. But here's the rub.You worked with Martin McDonagh on In Bruges, and now you're working with his brother John Michael, also a writer-director, on The Guard. Scores of wizards and witches claimed that they only did You-Know-Who's bidding under the effects of the Imperius Curse. Talented, isn't she? What shall I have her do next? Jump out the window? Perhaps this will show you why.ĭon't worry, she's completely harmless! If she bites. Gave the Ministry a lot of trouble at one time. Oh, yeah, your dad would know all about that one. So, what curse shall we see first? Weasley! I CAN TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT YOUR FATHER THAT'LL CURL EVEN YOUR GREASY HAIR, BOY!Īlastor! We NEVER use transfiguration as a punishment! surely, Dumbledore told you that? I'll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned! I don't give a damn what your father thinks, Malfoy! He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic! I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament. Why so tense, Potter? My father and I have a bet, you see.
No way, the old codger can see out of the back of his head! You need to find another place to put your chewing gum besides the underside of your desk, Mr. I say different! You need to know what you're up against. The Ministry says you are too young to see what these curses do. The use of any one of them will.Įarn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. But first, which of you can tell me how many Unforgivable Curses there are?īecause they are unforgivable. End of story, goodbye, the end! Any questions? When it comes to the Dark Arts I believe in a practical approach. Ex-Auror, Ministry malcontent, and your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.