History Film / TheGuard

* GreaterScopeVillain: At one point, [[BigBad Francis Sheehy-Skeffington]] warns Boyle that arresting won't put an end to the drug operation, since there are "men behind the men."

%%* BigBadDuumvirate: Cornell and Sheehy.

* TokenGoodCop: MrViceGuy Gerry and his DecoyProtagonist DeadPartner (an eager ByTheBookCop) are the only cops besides a visiting FBI agent who actively try to solve the murder and drug investigations, while their boss and most of his other men are taking bribes to let drugs get brought into the country. Interestingly, due to his fondness for drugs and prostitutes and friendship with the local [=IRA=], Gerry views himself as the least honest cop in the area and is shocked to learn that so many of the others are actually worse than him.

* GoodGunsBadGuns: Inverted. Gerry makes use of a Glock and gives Wendell an AK, both of which have reputations as being the weapons for criminals and terrorists in Ireland. He did take these from the IRA. On the other hand, a few villains make use of revolvers, Cornell favours a SIG-Sauer, which is the pistol issued to armed Gardaí, and Sheehy uses a Beretta, which has a long history of being a "Good" gun.

%%* SaltAndPepper: Gerry and Wendell.

* CastingGag: As noted under AcceptableTargets, Dubliners are mocked a lot, especially by Gerry. Brendan Gleeson is himself a Dubliner.

* TakeThat: In the film’s very politically-incorrect sense of humour, Colin says there were plenty of gay men in the IRA, as it was the only way to infiltrate [=MI5=].

* TrouserSpace: Gerry hides a Derringer in his pants just by his groin.

* GoodGunsBadGuns: Inverted. Gerry makes use of a Glock and gives Wendell an AK, both of which have reputations as being the WeaponOfChoice for criminals and terrorists in Ireland. He did take these from the IRA. On the other hand, a few villains make use of revolvers, Cornell favours a SIG-Sauer, which is the pistol issued to armed Gardaí, and Sheehy uses a Beretta, which has a long history of being a "Good" gun.

* RevolversAreJustBetter: O'Leary's WeaponOfChoice is a [[HandCannon Magnum Revolver]], which he uses to threaten Gerry [[spoiler:and dispatch [=McBride=].]]

* BitterSweetEnding: The drug operation is definitively put down, [[spoiler:but it is ambiguous as to whether Gerry survived the boat explosion. Though it is implied he has faked his death and moved on.]] [[note]] and maybe set up with one of the hookers he had had a regular tryst with [[/note]]

* BitterSweetEnding: The drug operation is definitively put down, [[spoiler:but it is ambiguous as to whether Gerry survived the boat explosion. Though it is implied he has faked his death and moved on.]] [[note]] and maybe set up with one of the hookers he had had a regular tryst with [[/note][

* BitterSweetEnding: The drug operation is definitively put down, [[spoiler:but it is ambiguous as to whether Gerry survived the boat explosion. Though it is implied he has faked his death and moved on.]]

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Aoife downplays this [[spoiler:given that she is forced to participate in a blackmailing scheme against Gerry]], but she seems to genuinely like him and is a nice woman overallGerry and is a nice woman overall.

* SexyDiscretionShot: Gerry is about to have sex with the prostitutes, then the scene shifts to somethign else, and then returns after they've done it.

* TheBeard: Gabriella. She's aware Aidan is gay and that their marriage is just of convenience to allow her to stay in Ireland. It doesn't mean she doesn't care about him.

* BittersweetEnding: The drug operation is definitively put down, [[spoiler:but it is ambiguous as to whether Gerry survived the boat explosion. Though it is implied he has faked his death and moved on.]]
* BlackComedy. Since this is an action comedy, we're talking the blacker-than-death type.

* BitterSweetEnding: The drug operation is definitively put down, [[spoiler:but it is ambiguous as to whether Gerry survived the boat explosion. Though it is implied he has faked his death and moved on.]]
%%* BlackComedy. We're talking the blacker-than-death type.

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Aoife downplays this [[spoiler:given that she is forced to participate in a blackmailing scheme against Gerry]], but she seems to genuinely like Gerry.

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Aoife downplays this [[spoiler:given that she is forced to participate in a blackmailing scheme against Gerry]], but she seems to genuinely like Gerry and is a nice woman overall.

* PetTheDog: Gerry takes the time to look after his mother, who is dying of cancer.

* PsychoForHire: O'Leary.

* SaltAndPepper: Gerry and Wendell.

* TakeThat: In the film’s very politically-incorrect sense of humour, Colin says there were plenty of gay men in the IRA, as it was the only way to infiltrate MI5.

* VillainRespect: After McBryde refuses to turn around and forces O’Leary to shoot him InTheBack, the drug runners all admit that took guts.

* WidgetSeries: It's an Irish homage to Dirty Harry that features [[ClusterFBomb constant swearing]], [[BlackComedy dark humor]], and appropriate BlackAndGreyMorality. It's very much an EIEIO.

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Aoife downplays this [[spoiler:given that she is forced to participate in a blackmailing scheme against Gerry]], but she seems to genuinely like Gerry.

* BlackComedy. We're talking the blacker-than-death type.

** Gerry asks Wendell if being shot hurts, to which Wendell responds that it is. Gerry himself takes a round to the arm with little damage in the climax.

* BookEnds: Gerry putting on his uniform.
* BuddyCopShow: It Initially seems to be one between Gerry and the strait-laced, overeager Aidan, but later becomes one between Gerry and Wendell, the FBI agent.
* BuryYourGays: [[spoiler: Aidan]], the only gay character in the film, gets shot in the back of the head.
* CallBack: Everett raises his hand to ask a question to Boyle just before the climax, similar to how Gerry interrupted his lecture early on in the film.

* CitizenshipMarriage: Aidan is an ArmoredClosetGay and Gabriella needs citizenship papers to stay in the country.

* ClusterFBomb
* CoolOldLady: Gerry's mother.

* CrazyEnoughToWork: Gerry's sheer unpredictability and outlandish behaviour are key to his success.

** The villains like to spend car journeys discussing their favourite philosophers and have a fondness for Jazz music.

* DaChief: Inspector Stanton is a particularly incompetent version. [[spoiler:And corrupt]]

* EvilBrit: Clive Cornell.

** O'Leary scrawls 5 1/2 into a wall after killing the man who kicks off the plot. Turns out there was no real reason for it and he was just locked when he did it.

* ArmouredClosetGay: Aidan. There's no clue about it until [[TheBeard Gabriella]] mentions it to Gerry, since she married him for the visa and he married her to appear to be straight. [[spoiler: And he's already dead by this point, though [[BigBad Sheehy]] implies that he knows before O'Leary shoots him.]]

* TheBeard: Gabriella. She's aware of this and her marriage to Aidan is a marriage of convenience to allow her to stay in Ireland. Doesn't mean she doesn't care about him.
* BigBadDuumvirate: Cornell and Sheehy.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: [[spoiler: If O'Leary hadn't been sent to kill Boyle, Wendell and Boyle would not have learned the real location of where the boat was landing.]]

* BuddyCopMovie: It Initially seems to be one between Gerry and the strait-laced, overeager Aidan, but later becomes one between Gerry and Wendell, the FBI agent.

* OlympicSwimmer: Gerry is a great swimmer and [[UnreliableNarrator may or may not]] have come fourth at the Seoul Olympics. [[spoiler:He may have used this ability to escape from the yacht at the end of the film.]]

* BloodKnight: Cornell is revealed to have a little bit of this: "You kidding me? This is better than fucking Christmas!"

* CorruptCop: Gerry is amazingly corrupt, in that he frequents prostitutes, steals evidence, drinks and takes drugs on shift, and even returns guns to the IRA. Amazingly, he's the only guard in the film ''not'' on the villains' payroll. They try to bribe and blackmail him, but he simply doesn't give a shit.