Today’s quick review: The Boondock Saints. Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus star as a pair of Irish brothers in Boston who take up vigilantism after surviving a violent encounter with a couple of thugs. With the help of their friend, a low-level criminal with inside information, they hunt down and kill the worst members of the mob. While their crusade earns the approval of the public, it also catches the attention of the authorities, and an eccentric FBI forensic specialist played by Willem Dafoe is assigned to their case. As law enforcement closes its noose and the mob gears up for war, the brothers’ journey nears its end.
The Boondock Saints is a clever, engrossing thriller that has earned its reputation as a cult classic. The quality of its direction can be seen in its fight scenes. The fights are shown after the fact, as Dafoe examines the crime scenes to piece together what happened. His reconstructions blend with flashbacks to the actual fights in a highly satisfying cinematic conceit. The violence in the movie hews closer to the crime genre than the action genre. Despite a fair amount of gunplay and a few brutal melee fights, the focus is on the presentation of the fights and their ramifications, not stunts or spectacle.
Appropriately, the movie walks the line between serious and comedic. Violence and high stakes keep the movie gritty and grounded, but the world around the brothers retains a slightly surreal quality to it, from Dafoe’s flamboyant style to the brothers’ amateurish tactics. The brothers’ success is shown as a result of ballsiness and good luck more than planning or good sense, and the intersection between comic book vigilantism and crime movie realism leads to a very unique tone. While the movie shows its low budget in places, the storytelling is phenomenal, and the overall blend of elements is something you won’t find anywhere else. The Boondock Saints is a crime classic with a quirky tone, smart direction, and satisfying action. Give it a watch if any of this sounds appealing to you. 7.9 out of 10 on IMDB.