The Boondock Saints (1999) User Reviews (1,007)

Overall a Good Movie

[Rickhat-675-565572 · 8/10 · 19 December 2020]

Not knowing anything about this movie before watching it, I found myself caught up In the story and characters.

If you like gunfights, good guys vs bad guys this is the movie for you. If you're looking for something to watch, I recommend Boodock Saints. It's well worth the watch.

Brilliant Gem of a film

[thomasjay-2201 · 8/10 · 27 January 2019]

Finally got round to watching this and was not dissapointed in the slightest. A bonefied cult classic of a film there's so much on offer here be that the cast which comprised of: Sean Patrick Flanery, Willem Dafoe, Billy Connolly or the now "A lister" Norman Reedus of Walking Dead fame, or even the fantastically stylish and well executed plot of the film it's highly enjoyable. Fitting of many of the films released around the turn of the millennium it possesses that flair and charm which the dawn of 2000 bought with it see for example Snatch which has a fairly similar 'look' to this film and certainly a common charm. The story is full of laughs, highs and lows, dramatic and fantastic action and a surprisingly decent twist which personally upon first viewing wasn't obvious so in all this is a hidden gem of a film that's certainly worth your time. I highly recommend

Somewhere between Tarantino and Ritchie lies Duffy

[ox95 · 9/10 · 5 August 2003]

A fourth year film student with a chip on his/her shoulder will probably tell you that this film is simple, uninspired, derivative, gratuitous..... ignore him/her just like you always do and see this genuinely funny movie. It has an inspired performance by Willem Dafoe and enough new ideas to keep you glued. The social commentary should probably be looked at as more of a plot device than intelligent thought, but I found myself watching this movie repeatedly and enjoying it more the second and third time around. This is definitely a naughty pleasure for the movie enthusiast.

After all these years of hearing about this movie...

[cosmicdusterian · 10/10 · 12 August 2021]

It took watching a YouTube video of Willem Dafoe talking about it with such affection for me to finally watch it.

Great stuff. Perfect casting. Fun, funny, different. A bit of a "Snatch" (one of my favorites) like tone, but still unique. Had an absolute blast watching it.

The Saints Come Marching In!

[cariart · 21 August 2003]

The Boondock Saints is one of the most pleasant surprises I've had in my years of watching indies, and it proves conclusively that you don't need a massive budget to do a terrific action film!

Two blue-collar Boston Irish brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus, who are both terrific!) rid their favorite pub of an influx of Russian gangsters, and soon decide they are on a Mission from God to execute all the 'heavy hitter' criminals from the city. While this makes them local heroes, it also sets sympathetic detective Willem Dafoe on their trail.

The story is reminiscent of the 'Death Wish' series, without the glossy superficiality of the Bronson films. At times funny, at times disturbing, it never loses momentum, with a twist ending is both satisfying and thoroughly insane!

While the violence is graphic, the story is character-driven, and never allows the executions to overwhelm the plot. You actually like the brothers, and may be hard-pressed NOT to root for them, even if you do feel a bit guilty about it!

The Boondock Saints is a fabulous film, one that deserves your attention!

A true original

[Ledare · 10/10 · 1 September 2002]

This film had the sad history of being blackballed in the United States due to the incident at Columbine...which is a real shame, because it is a treasure...written and directed by Troy Duffy, Boondocks is set in Boston...it is the story of fraternal twin Irish boys (Connor and Murphy McManus) who work in a meat packing plant...when their friend, Doc, is being stiff armed by the Russian Mafia, the boys and their friends step in to help...and away we go! Two of the most interesting characters in the film are played by veteran actor William Dafoe, and a newcomer to the silver screen, David Della Rocco. Dafoe's character is Paul Smecker, a gay FBI agent specializing in organized crime...Rocco plays an Italian Mafia package boy who is a close friend to the Irish brothers...the central theme of the film is the indifference of good men...Connor and Murphy are not indifferent, and after helping their friend, Doc, the two embark on a crusade to rid the streets of Boston of criminals...with the assistance of their comical and zany friend, Rocco...This film had positive elements on all sides...humor...a moral message...and incredible actors...you will no doubt find yourself repeating the many memorable quotes from the film...I am a woman, and not at all into your typical "shoot 'em up" guy films...this is not another one of those films...it has become an underground "cult" sensation...See it...you will not be disappointed!

Great movie

[xanderlm · 10/10 · 16 October 2021]

A solid movie. Good amount of action, but not to the point where it takes over the whole movie. Willem Dafoe has a wonderful character arc in it. While some of it does seem outlandish, none of it is to the point of being totally unrealistic, like most modern action movies. If you want a movie that will bring you a good laugh and maybe even question your own beliefs, this is a good pick.

Great unusual action film

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 10/10 · 8 February 2004]

Very intelligent action movie, about two Irish brothers who kill 'sinners' to punish them. The movie is a bit different from the typical action movie, as it doesn't have car-chases or explosions. The action consists of stylish shooting sprees. It also has a fairly original idea that is utilized in nearly every action scene in the movie, and that should be used more often in action films; first you see the aftermath, the crime-scene, the police investigating, counting bodies, etc. After/as the police come up with theories to the crime, we see the actual scene, of the brothers punishing criminals. It's a different kind of vigilante movie. It's particularly gory and bloody, but this just makes it all the more realistic. In real life, there is a significant amount of blood when someone is shot in the head. The movie has some Christian subtexts, I think I've heard about five major theories about the whole movie's meaning. This shows, in my opinion, that there was obviously a lot of thought put into the movie. I'd recommend it to anyone who can stand the gore, even if they aren't Christians. 10/10

Solid and great action movie

[TheFireRisesAfterThePlane · 7/10 · 14 October 2019]

Cool action scenes, good pacing and much funny entrateinment. A dark comedy in Irish world Willem dafoe does a good job on the acting and it has a decent soundtrack. I don't see why critics hate this movie.

Purely just a Fun Movie

[Party_Hard · 10/10 · 17 June 2004]

I know there's a lot of people who either worship this movie or hate it. Truth be told this movie is just a fun action movie with a good plot, great characters, and very good direction. Compare it to whatever you want, but you can do that with any movie out there. If you haven't had the chance to catch this flick, go out and rent it! it's one of those movies that shouldn't be missed. I guarantee that once you see it you'll be quoting it left and right. Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus have amazing chemistry together, and David Del Rocko just adds the comedic relief that makes the trio one thats hard to take your eyes off of.

See the Boondock Saints and get ready to have a good ole celtic time.

(B)

Overrated

[screenwriter_3027 · 7/10 · 16 January 2006]

This movie is not good. It is poorly acted, and it makes very little sense. The plot isn't coherent at all, and is really just an excuse to show Irish people cussing at another. The character "Rock" is annoying as hell, and none of the characters are really likable. Willem Dafoe is wasted as a homosexual cop. The only decent part of the movie is the end, which I won't spoil. Just save to say the monologue is so poorly delivered I was actually laughing. Screw this movie, it's not as good as everyone says it is. The only reason it has such a good rep is because a bunch of geeks decided it qualified as entertainment. Don't see this, it's disappointing.

Great (but not always new) ideas - great realization. Entertainment in the tradition of "Pulp Fiction".

[chh. · 9/10 · 15 August 1999]

Preliminary remark: the comments refer to a pre-release version that was shown at the "Fantasy Film Festival" in Cologne, Germany, in August 1999.

"Boondock Saints" is a clever, funny, sufficiently violent movie with an overall high entertainment value. The story revolves around two Irish-American brothers and an excentric gay FBI agent (awesome: William Dafoe). The brothers - devout Catholics - who speak several languages fluently and work in a slaughterhouse find themselves equipped with money and weapons and subsequently start their very own crusade against the evil men of Boston - professional killers, mafia bosses and drug dealers. The agent is at their heels from the outset, but he has to realize that justice is on the side of the brothers...

This basic plot is the foundation for a highly energetic narrative: we get excellent and at times highly comic dialogues (with a high F***-word ratio), running gags, and lots of crazy situations and plot developments that are as absurd as they are funny. The action/shooting scenes are well-choreographed with a fine eye for the detail, but it's the main characters, their dialogues and developments around which the movie is develops rather than the action sequences.

On top of this, we get a fractured time/place structure that's already familiar from movies such as Kubrick's "The Killing" or Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs", but "Boondock Saints" takes it to new extremes - and thus it's fun to watch.

Of course, the characters are a bit shallow every now and then and one would love to learn more about their background, but that's only a slight criticism. Overall, and measured by its own intention, "Boondock Saints" is great entertainment. More, it doesn't need to be.

Why such opposition

[mikenike8835 · 6/10 · 19 February 2011]

I just watched this movie for the first time and while it was not anything spectacular i found it to be entertaining. Yes almost all the action scenes were completely outrageous and unrealistic but that is hardly something to be appalled at. How many times did you say "Oh Come on!" when watching John McClain kill bad guy after bad guy non stop with one gun and limited ammo, or Rambo slaying entire armies single handed, and how about Dutch being the only one of many to kill the predator with makeshift weapons while covered in mud. What pure action film isn't ridiculous and unbelievable. What surprises me is the hate offered by people who disliked the movie. Take the people who write the good reviews. They say what they thought of the movie and for the most part leave it at that. But the people who write the bad reviews not only trash the movie but deem anyone who liked it childish or just plain idiots. Personally i find it childish and idiotic that these are things such people are so bothered with. Look, its by no means a great movie. But if you want to see some Irish boys defy all odds and kill endless hoards of gangsters while saying the lords prayer, then this movie is for you.

Totally Contrived

[psd-1 · 2/10 · 26 August 2005]

This was like finishing one of those paint by number kits and calling it "art". Every character completely contrived and unrealized. Plus the obvious inconsistencies were so annoying. Case in point - one moment the twins can knock off nine mobsters hanging from a rope upside down and the next they can't hit the broadside of a barn in the shootout with Il Duce. Then Il Duce turns out to be daddy! And the way the director condescends to his audience is a joke. Wanna see how all of the dead bodies got to be that way? Wait a minute and I will will show you. Can't come up with any original dialog? No problem. Use the F-word 200+ times. Dreadful.

Take it or Leave it.

[ScarlettWeasel · 31 March 2004]

You've either seen it or you haven't; you either love it with a fiery passion, or curse it for ever being thought up. Boondock Saints is one of those films that people just can't seem to be apathetic about.

I happen to be one of the those who love it with a firey passion. I thought that Willem Dafoe's character was fantastic and created a gay man unlike the stereotypes of "Queer Eye." I also thought Duffy's was well suited to the tone of the movie, and created several fascinating shots that I love as a film student. The credit sequence strikes me as brilliance; the film raises a lots of questions of where the line between good and evil lays and about perceptions of God. The writing made me laugh, the music made me shiver (the opening sequence is The Blood of Cu Chulainn--fantastic if you like that genre), and the characters made me care. On a purely shallow feminine note: just as straight boys have twin fantasies, so do I with a pair of fraternal Irish twins...thank you Troy, thank you.

Of course then there's the opposite side of the coin. Allowing yourself to be immersed in the story takes some huge suspension of belief. Common examples: Conner jumping off a building and not breaking bones--possible, but unlikely, and the boys falling through the air duct after magically taking a coiled rope, untying it and getting tangled in it enough that when caught would hold their weight allowing them to shoot every major boss in the Russian Mob--yeah, I don't buy it either, but it's extremely cinematic! Some people would point to that and say "divine intervention! God loves them!" Yeah well, God loves us all, but you don't see people flying off buildings because of it--well you might, but you get my drift. So my point is that, while I love this movie, I could very easily see where someone else wouldn't.

If you haven't seen it; you should. Give it a chance. Don't listen to anybody else before you do. Hell, if you haven't seen it why are you reading this? Go rent it, burrow if from your friends, whatever; watch it and form your own opinions and then join in some huge fight on the message boards. Good fun can be had by all, whether you loved or hated it.

Non-linear storytelling executed well

[stumblefoot · 8/10 · 28 July 2003]

I've always enjoyed non-linear storytelling. A number of people seem to have picked up on this aspect of the movie and thus dubbed it similar to Pulp Fiction (though no one mentions Reservoir Dogs) when this movie takes non-linear storytelling to a level beyond where Quentin Tarrantino was ever able to go.

Now, certainly Memento came along afterwards and transformed the entire art of non-linear storytelling. However, Memento uses it to keep the movie watcher guessing until the very end, whereas Boondock Saints puts the pieces on the table, letting you try to put them together, but then will continue handing you pieces until the picture becomes clearer.

Clearly the movie is designed to be over-the-top, both from Williem Dafoe's character to the action sequences themselves. Williem Dafoe makes this movie for me. The plot, which centers on religiously-inspired vigilante justice, has an air of being somewhat cliched, although I would be hard pressed to name another movie which handles it in this matter.

I still fail to see how others consider this movie vacuous and without meaning, when its message about the pitfalls of our current legal system and the need for something that transcends it is quite clear. I thought the ending, in which various people are interviewed about their opinion of the "Saints" and how for some vigilante justice was an incredibly sensitive issue, made this point very clear.

A real gem

[mass-32942 · 9/10 · 2 January 2024]

It's 2023 and I'm just watching this movie for the first time. It is so wonderful and quirky, I can't believe it. It sets a really high bar which has rarely been surpassed either before or after. The movies that I've rated nine stars are few and far between, but when I do it's because I feel the movie has been successful in realizing its vision. This is one such movie. And on top of that, the vision for this movie is novel and interesting. Interesting concept, great story and competent acting set a pretty high bar to top. Better late than never. I'm sure glad I decided to watch this on a whim. I wished I had made a bowl of popcorn.

WONDERFULLY PULPY!

[Analog_Devotee · 8/10 · 5 July 2021]

A buddy of mine recommended this film to me about 10 years ago. I was hesitant simply because I'd fallen out of love with action films at the time. I can't remember why (probably just burnout) but this film reinvigorated my love for the genre.

It's a shame this one didn't do better at the box office, but I'd like to think the cult status it garnered after its DVD release makes up for it. Unique and amazing cast, wonderfully pulpy story and an overall great action-drama affair.

Always excellent

[jmw111085 · 9/10 · 30 December 2020]

I've watched this film several times now and it is always excellent. Each time I pick up something new that I missed before.

Zany

[matthewjwill · 6/10 · 18 November 2019]

Fun film. Totally stupid. You will have a good time.

Holier than thou?

[dee.reid · 10/10 · 1 June 2006]

I guess it'll take a while for the effect to where off. I saw the unrated edition of "The Boondock Saints" two days ago and I'm still reeling in from the experience, which is surreal, to tell you the truth. Quite frankly, a movie that is this sharply written, acted, and directed is a true rarity these days. Writer-director Troy Duffy dives into the murkiest depths of the "law," and its apparent futility in modern times, and how it takes two Irish fraternal twin brothers, Conner and Murphy (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus - both of whom are a little too convincing in their roles), to stir up enough debate about vigilantism to become media heroes. The release of "The Boondock Saints" was sidelined in 1999 because of the Columbine massacre and the plot about Conner and Murphy being on a mission from God draws some eerie parallels to the motives of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. As the film opens in Boston after St. Patrick's Day, Conner and Murphy get into a bar-room brawl with a couple of Russian toughs and said toughs are discovered the next morning in an alley in piles of their own blood and guts. FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) shows up on the scene to show the local cops a thing or two about criminology and theorizes it was a revenge killing. Soon enough, both injured brothers waltz into the police station and claim self-defense. They're let off after a night in jail (plus experience a cathartic jail-cell baptism) and no charges filed. But soon, more bodies turn up, and Smecker learns that Conner and Murphy (and a third, David Della Rocco) may be the ones behind the mayhem on the streets. Duffy's film is a bloody one (most of the gruesome violence is extended in the unrated special edition), with a cackling screenplay that includes 246 uses of the f-word and assorted Irish-Euro-slang, and has earned a fearsome reputation in recent years and has been embraced as a cult phenomenon. (It's easy to see why, if one is a fan of relentless violence and bloodshed. P.S.: The action is so balletic in its style and excess that it's almost reminiscent of a John Woo picture.) I can't believe I stood away from this movie for so long, darn it! The opening moments don't prepare you for what comes up next and even though the action (which there is quite a bit of and, as stated earlier, is extended in the unrated version) is quite bloody, there's a morbid sense of humor running throughout the carnage and I fell out laughing on more than one occasion during this picture. And still, there is a sense of beauty and tragedy underlying much of the action in "The Boondock Saints," and its ending will certainly leave a bitter taste in the mouths of some. Lastly, I would recommend reading up on as much about the controversy surrounding "The Boondock Saints" as one possibly can; it'll make the experience much more hypnotic.

10/10

A good movie with its fair share of flaws.

[melkorsservant1 · 7/10 · 19 February 2006]

My friends have been urging me to see the Boondock Saints for a while now. I finally decided to rent it this past Saturday. I must say, I enjoyed it and will definitely be adding it to my DVD collection. The action sequences are very well done and entertaining and really keep the film going.

However, there are a lot of things in this movie that really did not make much sense to me. First of all, I don't understand why these two Irish brothers suddenly decide to become vigilantes. They kill two Russian mobsters in self defense then make a desicion to wage an all out war on crime. It just seemed kind of out-of-the-blue to me. Another thing is that how could two meat factory workers become cold-blooded, sharpshooting, professional killers in a matter of a few days? And also, Wilem Defoe is the most unconvincing woman I have ever seen.

Other than those story flaws, I thought it was an immensely entertaining movie with good performances all around. Most notably Wilem Defoe as an unorthodox FBI investigator. Overall, it's a fun movie and great to watch with a group of friends.

Amazing funny movie, critics like always are full of crap ( A+ Movie) My Ratings 10/10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 10/10 · 11 February 2020]

This is a perfect example of movie critics being out of touch with audiences. Is Boondock Saints a revolutionary film filled with epiphanies? No. Is it a fun (and surprisingly heartwarming at times) watch? YES! The love the two brothers feel for each other and the commitment they feel to doing right by each other and punishing others who commit evil hits home and raises the question: do two wrongs make a right? Does punishing evil justify violence? The movie is over the top, funny, and packed with action that doesn't bore or drag on. Honestly a must-watch!

The Boondock Saints

[BankBastard · 1/10 · 12 July 2003]

*A lot of Spoilers*

Almost all of my friends told me to watch this movie. "It's so sick", "Great Movie", "It's so badass", and "It is in a category of it's own"... well, I can honestly say that "The Boondock Saints" was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, and had it not been for Willem Dafoe, it would have easily been the worst movie of all time. (A title currently held by both The Exorcist II and The Amityville Horror). This movie is crap, there is no way around it. The cult status it has climbed to is baffling. The fact that many people enjoy this movie is beyond the realm of human comprehension. I cannot understand. It has a lousy story line, and it doesn't gel or make sense. The action is GARBAGE. I don't care what anyone says, it blows. Its cheesy, dull and anticlimactic... Half of the "action" is bad quick-cut scenes zooming in on aftermath, or shots of people shooting up a storm. For some reason people can't seem to shoot each other from ten feet away, and while dangling upside-down in a room full of gangsters, these jerks kept their bearings and shot up the joint, killing almost 10 mobsters (How can they shoot so well? why can't mobsters shoot? what was holding up the rope?). Why were they so smart? why did they pack meat for a living if they could speak multiple languages? How come he didn't die after jumping off a building at least 5 stories high into an alley? What the hell was the writer thinking? The acting, with the exception of Willem Dafoe (why did he have to crossdress? honestly...), was ghastly. The Irish accents were brutal, and the overdone villains were just as horrendous. The whole "we're catholic, but we execute Mobsters" thing was also swill. The prayer being spoken in unison was so lame!! Who writes this crap? The whole symmetric action shots of them lighting cigarettes, praying, shooting, etc. were so corny I was ashamed of myself for watching, and I was hoping nobody would come into the room and watch... I would have been reprimanded for watching such trash. The accents from the "Saints" were like a poor man's Mickey, from "Snatch"...a good movie. This movie is so flawed, so cheesy, and so boring I was shocked after I watched it. Also, another atrocity is that its being compared to Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. How dare someone make that comparison? Those movies are masterpieces, with good actors, excellent dialogue, perfect direction, fitting music (this movie had the worst music I think I've ever heard in a film) and reasonable story lines. This movie was the polar opposite of that. Irish people should be appalled by this... anyone from Boston should be appalled by this... every person on the face of the earth should be appalled by this. What gets me the most is the alienation that people who don't like this movie feel. They become outcasts in the conversation... I Just don't get it... we need more movies like Commando, Terminator, Aliens, Rambo, Cliffhanger, or Predator... hell, even Marked for Death or Cobra (that's right, 1986 Sly Stallone) is better than this. Its a sad day when people think that Matrix movies and this refuse are excellent action films. Shed a tear for a near dead genre. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, unless you want to watch it in order to make a subsequent film look really good. ½ star/ 5. This movie is on par with Jaws 4 and Barb Wire... despicable... May god have mercy on Troy Duffy's soul.