In the great spirit of "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" comes "Boondock Saints," a pale shadow of the first two films I just mentioned. There is plenty of violence and bad language to go around here, but it never really materializes past the point of being senseless.
Willem Dafoe is good as Smecker, a cop investigating the "Saints," two brothers who feel they are doing the world good by personally ridding their city of all evil men.
The main problem with the film is the amount of unintentional humor that it elicits, particularly with the Dafoe character. The movie wants to be serious and have a message, but it just never happens. There is also a huge credibility problem with placing porn legend Ron Jeremy in what is a non-porn role. It is unintentionally funny to see him try and act.
The level of violence is so high that the viewer just becomes de-sensitized by about the middle of the film. There is supposedly a director's cut of the film which runs a half hour longer, sure to have even more bloodshed. The violence is done in such a tasteless and sloppy manner that sometimes you wonder if the actors are getting tired of it.
There are many other films in the crime genre that I would recommend before "Boondock Saints." In an effort to be memorable, it really comes off as just being unnecessary.
Grade: C-
Willem Dafoe is good as Smecker, a cop investigating the "Saints," two brothers who feel they are doing the world good by personally ridding their city of all evil men.
The main problem with the film is the amount of unintentional humor that it elicits, particularly with the Dafoe character. The movie wants to be serious and have a message, but it just never happens. There is also a huge credibility problem with placing porn legend Ron Jeremy in what is a non-porn role. It is unintentionally funny to see him try and act.
The level of violence is so high that the viewer just becomes de-sensitized by about the middle of the film. There is supposedly a director's cut of the film which runs a half hour longer, sure to have even more bloodshed. The violence is done in such a tasteless and sloppy manner that sometimes you wonder if the actors are getting tired of it.
There are many other films in the crime genre that I would recommend before "Boondock Saints." In an effort to be memorable, it really comes off as just being unnecessary.
Grade: C-