The Boondock Saints

Well, I was flabbergasted. This isn't just any ordinary crime/thriller, this is a proper gritty film about two brothers who decide to take justice into their own hands as two saints who are chosen to rid the world of filth. There's also the great Willem Dafoe, who is breathtaking as the policeman. A big surprise! (09/04/2017)

The story may limp along, you can easily mix up the supporting characters if you don't pay close enough attention, and I still haven't deciphered the final message years later (Satire? A warning? Both?), but I don't mind. The symphony of blood, action, and slow-motion shots contains almost everything a genre fan could wish for and pleasantly engages the viewer throughout. When I add Willem Dafoe's eccentric exhibitionism, any negative aspects are much harder to find. (06/20/2008)

An inventive screenplay and direction from Duffy (the ingeniously written scene with the reconstruction of the shoot-out) that any would-be action director would have been proud of. Excellent acting performances both by the main two or the directing Willem Dafoe give the movie an inimitable atmosphere. I hope that Troy Duffy gets enough dough for part two so that the Saints can pull out all the stops again. And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nomine Patris. Et Filii. Et Spiritus Sancti. (05/20/2009)

Those were the days when they didn't know how to do comic book stuff yet. If it had the aesthetic of a darker Marvel or normal DC today, it could be a blast. But The Boondock Saints has a bit of a blowhard Ritchie and a bit of a whiny Tarantino, with some solid screenwriting in places, but nothing more. The few interesting moments cannot overcome the utter aesthetic chaos and confusing directorial style. I’d be interested in a remake, because the material does have potential. (06/13/2021)

All things considered, the film fell far short of my expectations. I was expecting more gore, more violence, more action. The film practically works in that vein all the time. The characters don't spare the macho bullshit about exterminating the mafia and how they’re not messing around, and there are all of three such scenes. Likewise, when the bad guys pick up some uber-slasher from the prison to rip him one, the viewer is in for a hell of a shootout. And yet this takes place in such a way that the three characters are unable to properly shoot the opponent standing in front of them, who in turn is unable to take them down. In addition, the story is very strange, with a few absolutely incomprehensible interjections (Dafoe like fuck) and so on. Fortunately, the first half contains quite a few good lines, and Willie is really pouring it on. Otherwise, wasted potential. (04/22/2010)