The Boondock Saints came out in 1999 in a very limited release, moving from the five theaters that it received brief showings to DVD and television viewing.  It also didn't garner a lot of attention at the time it came out, but over the years has become very recognizable not just for the pop culture references it has inspired, but for the fans of the film who found it to be remarkable.  It's one of those films that not everyone can enjoy with the extreme level of violence that gets portrayed, but buried beneath that is a very interesting story that has enthralled countless viewers in the past 10 years.

The story of The Boondock Saints involves two fraternal twin brothers who have been working at a meat packing plant and enjoy spending time at a local bar.  While celebrating St. Patrick's Day at this pub, three Russian mafia members try to shut down the pub, and harm the bartender that the brothers have come to care about.  A brawl breaks out as they try to stop the Russians, and it forces the intruders to retreat for now.  The return later to try and take out the two brothers though, who defend themselves by killing these Russians.  The story really gets started when they try to turn themselves in.

Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus play the brothers Connor and Murphy McManus, and when they discover that people are actually glad that they killed these Russian mafia members, they realize that they may have found their calling.  Now the brothers decide that they are going to rid the city of Boston of all evil-doers with their own brand of justice, and with the back-drop of religion guiding their way, they seek to clean up the entire city.

The deeds of these brothers puts the FBI on their trail, and the lead investigator is Paul Smecker played by Willen Dafoe.  His tracking techniques are unique in that he puts himself in the place of the brothers after they have finished each of their tasks, and seeks to figure out why they are choosing the targets that they are after.  Dafoe is absolutely brilliant in this role, which is probably his best work on film, as he becomes obsessed with what the brothers are up to, and it seems like he is almost jealous that they can just take out bad guys on a whim.  Flanery and Reedus are equally good at not only the dramatic moments of the film, but by blending some great humor into the mix as well.

Troy Duffy wrote and directed The Boondock Saints, a movie that has slowly picked up fans in its 10 years of release.  He did the perfect job of showcasing the quest of these brothers, leaving a few great fight sequences in the middle to pick up the pace of the film, and at all times keeps the story interesting.  Some may not like the final minutes of the film, but everything that builds up to it make this an exciting story to behold.  There is a moral question at the core as to whether what these brothers are doing is all right or whether they should be arrested, and that just adds to allure of the characters involved.  This film is one that should be seen by fans pf movies, as it is so simple in premise that the undertones and subplots just sneak up on the viewer.  Highly recommended.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD