The Boondock Saints is a 1999 independent thriller movie directed Troy Duffy. Overall the movie is fantastic, mixing action and comedy well with likable characters and great writing. Although it’s not completely perfect it’s still a great film and well worth the watch.

The movie stars Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery as the MacManus twins, Murphy and Connor, two extremely religious Irish men. On Saint Patrick’s day two russian mobsters come to collect from the bar that the brothers are at. After a quick fight ,the brothers send the mobsters packing. Later the next day the mobsters return to take revenge. They kidnap Connor (Norman Reedus) and take him into an ally to kill him. This forces the two brother to kill the mobster in self defence. The investigation the help of FBI agent Paul Smecker, Played by Willem Defoe, who easily pins the crime on the brothers. While in jail both brothers have a vision from god, and he tells them to rid the world of its evils. This sends the brothers on a warpath straight to the Russian Mafia, and it up to Smecker to figure out who their next target will be.

Sean and Norman have great on screen chemistry together and really pull the audience into the world of the MacManus boys. They are able to portray the feeling that they are actually brothers and that they have a strong love for each other. The standout performance of the movie has to be Willem Defoe as the brilliant FBI agent who is troubled by his sexuality. He loses himself in his character and steals almost every scene he’s in. He bring and energy to the film and brings some of the funnier moments as well. The scene in which he is investigating the crime scene are some of the best in the movie. While telling the other detectives what happened he flashes back to the crime itself and he dissects the crime. These scenes are beautifully shot and add great depth to the movie.

Now this movie isn’t perfect, and it definitely isn’t for everyone. This movie does contain some graphic violence and language as well, so if that isn’t what you’re looking for then this isn’t the film for you. The ending of the movie also isn’t as big as a hit as the rest of the movie. The twist at the end doesn’t really make any sense and kind of falls flat. It seems like it was just in there to set up the sequel.

Overall The Boondock Saints is a great first impression from Troy Duffy, and is a fantastic film and is well worth the watch.