Plot: What’s it about?
Connor & Murphy McManus (Sean Patrick Flanery & Norman Reedus) are Irish brothers who live in Boston, as part of a small, close community. The area is home to a lot of people, but most of them remain close and the businesses are mostly owned by locals, so it is sort of a self sustained neighborhood, if you will. So when the Russian mafia starts to push into the neighborhood and take over, it doesn’t sit well with anyone. But since most of the locals have little resources, the Russians are able to get a foothold and soon after, begin sending out business owners, to further their own financial plans. When a pub comes under the scope of the Russians, Connor, Murphy, and some others stand up to the intruders, but that’s just the start. Connor and Murphy begin to have visions that they’ve been chosen by the powers above, to fight evil and make the streets safe again, no matter what the cost. The rash of criminals murdered leaves the locals pleased, but FBI agent Smecker (Willem Dafoe) is called in to capture those responsible. But when he slowly discovers that the work being done is the type he wishes he could do himself, can he complete his assignment and bring in the killers?
It seems like this movie has been delayed countless times, but The Boondocks Saints has now arrived, thanks to Fox. I really like this movie and I’m impressed it came from a first timer director in Troy Duffy, as it really has the polish often only seen in more experienced filmmakers. I do think some flaws are exposed in the acting at times, but for a first timer director, Duffy delivered and The Boondock Saints is one hell of a debut. This film is brash, violent, clever, and very fun to watch, thanks to a special brand of energy present throughout, an energy that never runs out of steam, not even for a second. The dialogue is well written and delivered to full effect, while the action scenes are filmed with skill, especially in terms of attention to detail. The premise is not too unique, but as the story unfolds, it pulls itself away from others like it enough, mostly due to the unusual characters found throughout. The cast is led by Willem Dafoe and is quite good also, I think a lot of time & effort went into choosing just the right performers here. As you should be able to tell, I highly recommend this film and since Fox has put together a solid disc at an excellent price, I see no reason a purchase wouldn’t be more than justified.
His career is loaded with performances of quirky characters, so Willem Dafoe seems right at home within The Boondock Saints. His work here is as solid as usual, as Dafoe isn’t known for sleepwalking through a role, even in smaller roles and lesser known films. Dafoe is able to be a normal person with some unusual traits, which is perhaps due to his profession, perhaps just to some personal issues. His performance had to be top notch, as he is the connection between the movie and the audience at times, if he would have slacked off, the movie simply wouldn’t have maintained the same impact levels. Other films with Dafoe include Shadow of the Vampire, Platoon, The English Patient, Spider-Man, and Body of Evidence. The cast also includes Sean Patrick Flanery (Body Shots, Suicide Kings), Norman Reedus (Blade II, 8MM), and Billy Connolly (An Everlasting Piece, Beautiful Joe).
Video: How does it look?
The Boondock Saints is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I am unsure why Fox did give this an anamorphic treatment, but I am pleased it is at least widescreen, of course. The image here is solid and the film is well presented, but the lack of anamorphic enhancement has caused some problems. I found sharpness to be lower than expected, while shimmering & jagged edges were more frequent, all of which means a less than refined visual presentation. The colors and contrast look good though, I just wish Fox has given us a new anamorphic treatment on this one. The end result is an image we can live with, but it could have been so much better, without question.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is better than average, but it does lack the little things that make a track great, like subtle presence and such. The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is very good though, with plenty of power to burn during the gun fights and chases, while also giving us solid atmosphere during the more reserved scenes. I do wish the outdoor scenes and other calmer moments had a little more depth however, just to enhance the audio environment. The dialogue is clean however, with no volume or clarity issues in the least to contend with. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main draw here is an audio commentary with writer/director Troy Duffy, who details the entire production process, from writing to financing to the actual shoot. Duffy is very laid back and relaxed, so his comments are informative and his memory is excellent, as he recalls all kinds of small details. I found this to be a solid, informative session and fans will of course not want to miss it, as Duffy is very candid here. This disc also includes some deleted scenes, an outtakes reel, talent files, and the film’s trailer.
