The Boondock Saints (1999)

Let's talk about an amazing movie, or perhaps a movie you still haven't watched, or almost for certain a movie you missed when it was released in 1999. The Boondock Saints is a hilarious, heroic, cleaver suspenseful action/thriller/comedy about two Irish brothers, their Italian mobster friend, and their quest to rid their city (Boston) and the world of evil.

After a bar encounter on Saint Patty's day with two Russian mobsters, there is a murder attempt on the two Irishmen Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus). Conner and Murphy barely escape with their lives, the Russians are much less lucky. After turning themselves in, they are awaken in the middle of the night by what seems to be a spiritual presence. The brothers then decide they should start a crusade to rid the world of evil men. The twins team up with their Italian friend Rocco, a member of the Italian Mafia, who helps them find and kill corrupt men through Boston.

The threesome is hunted by FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker (Willam Dafoe) as they rampage through the city on a hunt of their own for criminals. Smecker starts the movie as an amazing homicide detective, but slowly starts to question whether the crimes committed by the brothers are really criminal, or if it is justice being served that the legal system could not deliver.

The movie continues as the brothers work their way up the chain of Italian and Russian mobsters, as well as their henchmen and mercenaries.This movie leaves a nice open ending that concludes the current plot, but leaves you wanting more. A sequel is available: Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, but unfortunately is no longer available on Netflix instantly.

The movie packs in a ton of action and comedy. It helps build a strong bond between the characters and the viewer, and keeps you eagerly waiting for the next scheme the brothers can come up with to stop evil men. The major performance however comes from Willam Dafoe. He completely encases himself in the roll of Special Agent Smecker. His acting is by far the pinnacle of the movie, as he is the most surprising and outrageous character and possible the harder to portray. I can't think of another actor that could have pulled off this roll.

The sequel picks up a bit after the first movie leaves off, so if you love the first movie like I did, I highly recommend you check out the second one on DVD. It's not quite as good, but it fills a void that the first movie leaves for you; wanting more of the saints.

Remember, everyone's a little bit Irish on Saint Patty's day.