The Boondock Saints (1999)

Rated: R for strong violence, language and sexual content.
Runtime: 110 mins.
Director: Troy Duffy
Writer: Troy Duffy
Tagline: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus....complete cast
Genre: Crime/Action
Distributor: "20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (DVD)
Most memorable quote: "Never shall the innocent blood be shed, yet the blood of the wicked shall flow like a river. The three shall spread their blackened wings and be the vengeful striking hammer of God."
Official Site: www.boondocksaints.com/


Reel rating:						2/5

Reel comment: While Boondock occasionally displays flashes of brilliant film making, more often than not, it grows tiresome and seems to lack the feeling of genuine cohesiveness....full review

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Review by Frank Wilkins

I have never been completely turned off by, or overly critical of violence in movies. As long as it is germane to the story and used as an emphatic device – and if the MPAA has rated it properly – violence can become an important aspect of storytelling. Many people point to Pulp Fiction as the bloody precedent that was violated to lead us to where we are today in terms of on screen violence. By today's standards, Pulp Fiction could be considered a rather benign representative, but if it is accurately designated as the birth giver to on screen violence, then The Boondock Saints is the testosterone charged, black sheep offspring that not only carries on the family legacy, but sets a standard that might take several generations for its progeny to surpass.

The Boondock Saints takes place in the seedy underworld of Boston. Connor and Murphy McManus, (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus respectively) two Irish brothers working in a meat packing plant, act on what they believe to be a message from God and will stop at nothing to reach their goal to rid the world of violence. Flanery and Reedus don't seem inspired by the opportunity, and as a result, they come off as inept and ham-handed in their roles. While the characters of the brothers McManus are indeed captivating, it is perhaps the dynamic nature of their roles that masks the deficiencies of Reedus and Flanery.

The brothers McManus are soon joined by their overly enthusiastic friend and mob runner Rocco (David Della Rocco). The three begin their crusade by eliminating the Russian mobsters who attempt to close down their local watering hole. They then work their way on up through the ranks of the Italian mafia. Although society views them as Saints whose actions should be heralded, in comes detective Smecker (Willem Dafoe) who vows to stop at nothing to bring their vigilantism to a halt despite his sympathy with their cause. Willem Dafoe delivers an absolutely outstanding and hilarious performance, as the gay F.B.I. detective who, while working the crime scene, plugs in headphones, cranks up the classical music and dances through his detective work routine, even giving us a memorable rendition of River Dance. The sardonically sinister role is perfect for him.

The story is nothing original or groundbreaking, but it's the way the story is told, coupled with the performance of Dafoe, that keeps this thing from having absolutely no value at all. In what is one of the more creative aspects of the film, we never see the crimes as they are being committed. We learn what went down from Det. Smecker himself as he is superimposed over the action describing the crime scene as bullets fly past in slow motion, hitting bodies, tearing flesh, and splattering blood on the surroundings. Six different types of bullets at a crime scene can either mean six different perpetrators or it might mean one guy with six guns who runs through his ammo clips and grabs the next gun from his full body holster.

While Boondock occasionally displays flashes of brilliant film making, more often than not, it grows tiresome and seems to lack the feeling of genuine cohesiveness. After the first few overly-violent encounters, the gig begins to grow old and we see that no matter how far-fetched the scenario – whether it be falling from the ceiling upside-down-guns-a-blazin' or escaping from handcuffs chained to a commode – the brothers are not going to lose. Just as in the typical teen-action films in which the bad guys with machine guns can't hit the heroes, yet the good guys can take out an army with a bullet and a copper wire, it becomes evident early on that we are in for another implausible fish story with guns and blood, not integrity, at its core.

I expect that we will soon hear of some disillusioned violent teenagers who committed their crime after watching The Boondock Saints as was the case in The Basketball Diaries. It IS that violent and controversial including the shooting of a house cat. I understand that the movie posters for this flick are hot items as kids are drawn to the main graphic of the Brothers McManus standing side-by-side pointing guns with silencers.

I'm not here to say that I believe that violent movies make violent people - that discussion is for another time - but I see no real reason why this movie needed to be made. Boondock Saints has that straight-to-video flavor with its cursory story and its clichéd inspiration. The acting doesn't deserve much mention other than that of Dafoe and the movie's message is misguided with a purposefully directed appeal. On a final note – gunplay inside Catholic Church confessionals should be left to reality if that day ever comes.

Frank Wilkins

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Screen formats: Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1

Subtitles: English, Spanish.

Sound: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround.

Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access; audio commentary with the writer and director; deleted footage; trailer; filmography.

Willem Dafoe ....	Paul Smecker
Sean Patrick Flanery ....	Connor MacManus
Norman Reedus ....	Murphy MacManus
David Della Rocco ....	Rocco
Billy Connolly ....	Il Duce
David Ferry ....	Detective Dolly
Brian Mahoney ....	Detective Duffy
Bob Marley ....	Detective Greenly
Richard Fitzpatrick ....	The Chief
William Young ....	Monsignor
Robert Pemberton ....	Mackiepenny
Bill Craig ....	McGerkin