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Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, David Ferry ... see more see more... , Brian Mahoney , Bob Marley , Carlo Rota , Jimmy Tingle , Gerard Parkes , Ron Jeremy , David Della Rocco , Bill Craig , Christopher Flockton , Jeffrey R. Smith , Richard Fitzpatrick , Robert Pemberton , William Young

Feeling that they are doing God's will, two Catholic men from Boston set out to kill everyone in this Reservoir Dogs-style vigilante thriller. Brothers Conner and Murphy MacManus (Sean Patrick Flanery... read more read more... and Norman Reedus) take to performing their divine duty against the Russian mob. They massacre a bunch of unsuspecting Mafioso in a scene of absurd violence, then they let more blood in a mass killing of porn-shop customers. Instead of getting thrown in jail, they are dubbed "saints" by the Boston Herald, and they are praised by brilliant, tortured, and gay FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe). ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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93% liked it

291,056 ratings

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20% liked it

25 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Troy Duffy

Release Date: November 19, 1999

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DVD Release Date: May 21, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (38,332)

  • LWOODS04
    October 15, 2012
    LWOODS04
    CAST: Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Willem Defoe, David Della Rocco, Billy Connolly



    DIRECTED BY: Troy Duffy



    SUMMARY: Encouraged by the public's praise, two Catholic brothers, Conner and Murphy MacManus bring a bloody brand of vigilante justice agains... read moret Boston's Russian mafia and crime lord Yakavetta.



    MY THOUGHTS: I liked it, thought it had some good action. Not as funny as I thought it would be. But a good movie none the less. Really liked the 'funny man'. He made me laugh a few times. But Willem Defoe really shocked me in this film. He was great and really stands out in this movie.. You will see why or know why if you have seen this or are going to see this. Anyways, a good time kind of movie with great action, a bit funny, and very much entertaining... See it if you haven't.
  • fb733768972
    September 7, 2012
    fb733768972
    Slick and stylish all the way through. The camera techniques are a wonderous sight to behold. A solid spiritual story with great intentions, that is left open for a continuous story. There is a lot that could be improved and characters need much more development, because a lot of... read more their actions are left up to you to understand, and it kind of becomes a little jumbled at times. This film is very underrated in my opinion and I am glad it had a strong cult following, gaining many fans. This movie is a rollicking gun slicking, mob attacking, nicely shot thriller. Comicle and Magnificent! "The Boondock Saints" is ambitions and nicely paced!
  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    One of the most overrated movies of all time. Horribly shot that so desperately wants to have a Tarantino feel without the wit and entertainment. Acting = horrible. Action? Non-existent. Cinematography was ugly as hell. Screenplay was horrendous.
  • fb100000257973100
    October 22, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    Think back to the early 1990s. During this time, there was a man by the name of Quentin Tarantino who made to crime films that changed everything in terms of cinema. Those films were Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Due to the success of those films, it is bound that someone wil... read morel either make a rip-off, tribute, or both of those films. Well, what we have is a man who made a film that celebrates the films of Tarantino, while at the same time paodying the crap out of it.
    My first expose to this film came from me seeing the trailers for the sequel. By judging from that, I knew that this film series was not going to be intelligent and just made for pure entertainment. So, I went and saw that IFC was showing the film of the first one, and being curious, I decided to watch it. What I got was what I expected: a dumb film with no brain, but is entertaining to watch regardless. Plus a rather interesting performance by Willem Dafoe.
    As it is mostly a complaint with this film, it does take a lot of liberties from Tarantino's first two films to a point where is almost becomes a parody. For numerous film fans and film buffs, this is a fault due to it making the film unoriginal. In my opinion, I see this more as a tribute to Tarantino then a parody. What Troy Duffy done here was take a man's two masterpieces and create a film that would take on a life of it's own and celebrate Reservoir and Pulp. Now, it does not do the best of jobs, but it does do better then most films I have seen (*coughplumpfictioncough*).
    now, there are a lot of reasons why I would recommend this film. Mostly from the comedic script to the stylize fighting and gore effects (believe me: there is plenty for all adrenaline junkies out there). But the main reason would have to be the over acting of Willem Dafoe. I have seen some comedic performances in my life time, but Dafoe just steals this film in one of his most bizarre films ever plus having one of the most overacted scenes he has ever done (when you hear him yell "IT WAS A FIRE FIGHT!", you will know what I mean). But that has to be one of the main reasons why I have a soft heart with this film: the actors do not take this serious. They have fun with the film. Plus, it is even more comedic due to the director is the only person who takes the film serious.
    But, that is the main idea of this film: not to be taken seriously and just to join for the ride. Yeah, it is mindbogglingly stupid in some areas and the entire concept is pathetic as being original, but if you just sit back and go along for the ride, you will be in for an entertaining two hours. Just, don't take the film seriously and watch for Dafoe. He makes the film worth viewing.
  • fb1672039553
    June 27, 2011
    fb1672039553
    This movie reminded me of Tarantino's, where it knows its a movie and every scene knows its a scene and wants to put on a good show for us. But really, Troy Duffy alienates people (women and minorities) in a way Tarantino never has in the movies I've seen. Willem Dafoe and his ch... read morearacter is really the only enjoyable part of this movie, and that goes stale in the second act (with the rest of the movie) and then to crap in the third.
  • ythelastman89
    April 11, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Boondock Saints is probably the closest thing that any movie has come to truly revitalizing the Exploitation genre. It's incredibly psychotic in nature, much like its director, but you can't help but enjoy this on some level. What makes this so interesting is that i'm sure Troy D... read moreuffy thought he was making the most realistic, gritty and amazing action movie that the world has ever seen. Not to mention that he had no idea how politically incorrect and ridiculous he was being when he was writing the characters and dialogue. You have to hand it to the cast; not many people could say such bizarre things and get away with it. However, this is almost too good at being a guilty pleasure type movie that it basically turns into a good movie period.
    Stylistically, this really has a seventies vibe to it which is really sort of cool. It plays into the exploitation delivery and makes a lot of the sequences come off more appropriate than they should. When the extremely nutball action does occur, it really does deliver nicely. Troy Duffy might not be the absolute genius that he believes, but it still undoubtedly looks good. Overall, you really have to look at this from a certain perspective. To take it dead serious would be a mistake, but it's also not made to be seen as a comedy. It lies in the exploitation genre in which you could be over the top and semi-serious at the same time. It's sort've the action movie you wish you could've made back when you were 13, but couldn't.
  • FrizzDrop
    January 13, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    I understand the appeal to the masculine sensibilities: Rogue Catholics taking down the scum of Boston, guns blazing, chased by an FBI agent played by none other than Willem Dafoe, one of the greatest bad asses of our time. This just seemed like pure dumb luck on the part of Troy... read more Duffy. I do give considerable kudos to the comic relief of Rocco, who was amazingly entertaining and funny to boot. The blood and gore kept me enticed; and the bond between brothers, the message of morality, and the lasting love of friendship.
  • hunterjt13
    January 3, 2011
    hunterjt13
    The Boondock Saints is a sleek, stylish film that relies too much on being sleek and stylish. Mostly, this film reminds me of the the days when other filmmakers were jacking off to Quintin Tarantino and produced trash like Smokin' Aces, not realizing that Tarantino... read more's skill lies less in violence for violence's sake but rather in strong, sharp characters, whose violence stems from their personal moral questions. Here, we get some of that reflection but not enough to make the film stand. When the MacManus brothers consider the ethics of vigilantism, they reason that the traditional mechanics of justice have failed. But we see none of this in the film. We're expected to bring ideas of cops' incompetence into the theater with our popcorn. This theme is further confused when we see Dafoe's character, who rivals Monk and Sherlock Holmes in his ability to read a crime scene. My basic point is this: the film's raison d'etre isn't adequately developed.
    Dafoe's now infamous "There was a firefight!" is just as over-the-top as some of the other performances. Though Flanery and Reedus generally stabilize the film, it's hard to take many of these characters seriously.
    Overall, I think this film is well-made; I understand why it has become a cult classic. However, it borders on violence-porn, and I'm not aroused.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    November 13, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I know I am not the target audience, but I LOVE this movie. I can quote it entirely.
    AC rating: Troy Duffy might have an ass-like reputation, but he still made interesting and insightful aspects of the whole production.
  • itsjustme2004
    October 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    I just love love love this movie. I saw it for the first time when it first came out, and yet again just recently. I find it totally hysterical, and very cool. I can't believe that it took them 10 years to do the follow-up one, cuz it was quite clear at the end that there was goi... read moreng to be more. Great action! Great movie!!

View All The Boondock Saints Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert Koehler
May 9, 2008
Robert Koehler, Variety

More interested in finding fresh ways to stage execution scenes than in finding meaning behind the human urge for self-appointed righting of wrongs, pic is stuffed with effects that have no lasting im... Full Review

Robert Roten
March 7, 2013
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

Willem Dafoe's portrayal of the conflicted homosexual FBI agent is overacted to such an extent that it is hilarious, amazing and entertaining. His is an unforgettable character. Full Review

Nathan Rabin
July 26, 2011
Nathan Rabin, AV Club

Satire or self-parody would be vastly preferable to the film's unironic endorsement of outlaw justice, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything resembling irony or subversiveness in this exercise in... Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
July 26, 2011
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide

Duffy's models are clearly snarky, ultraviolent Tarantino-esque crime pictures, but this movie's cleverness is never quite on a par with its bloodlust. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
August 17, 2010
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

An embarrassing waste of time, and nothing even resembling the guiltiest of guilty pleasures... Full Review

Nick Schager
October 23, 2009
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

[A] dim-witted, aesthetically clunky Tarantino clone. Full Review

Peter Canavese
March 15, 2009
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

It's one thing to make a film that's violent and profane; it's another to make one that's a moral black hole, and to do it because black looks cool. [Blu-ray] Full Review

Cole Smithey
October 13, 2007
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Train wreck!

Scott Weinberg
June 10, 2006
Scott Weinberg, DVD Clinic

While I don't think the flick really has much of a brain in its head ... it sure isn't boring. Full Review

Jason Zingale
May 27, 2006
Jason Zingale, Bullz-Eye.com

If you can't sit back and enjoy an entertaining popcorn flick like The Boondock Saints, then you'll probably never understand the difference between the movies and real life. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Conner MacManus: And Shepherds we shall be For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti.
    • Conner MacManus: Isn't that right Rambo?
    • Murphy MacManus: Fine, get you're stupid fucking rope.
    • Conner MacManus: I can't believe that happened!
    • Rocco: Is it dead?
    • Murphy MacManus: We're like 711, we ain't always doing business... But we're always open.
    • Murphy MacManus: You'd probably have better luck with beer.
    • Paul Smecker: Now, you Irish cops are perking up. That's two sound theories in one day, neither of which deal with abnormally sized men. Kind of makes me feel like Riverdancing.
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The Boondock Saints Trivia

  • In what movie did two irish religous men and an italian man get a "calling" from god to kill for "good"?  Answer »
  • which movie is the following excerpt from "for shepherds we shall be, for thee my lord for thee"  Answer »
  • When first entering The Sin Bin the words "All hope abandon, ye who enter," are painted on the wall next to the McManus brothers in the Boondock Saints. This is a literary allusion to what?  Answer »
  • What do the brothers in The Boondock Saints have tattooed on the side of their necks?  Answer »
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