Boondock Saints "Overrated"? I Don't Think So.

Have you ever overheard someone's conversation and heard something you definitely didn't want to hear? This was something that happened to me just the other day.  I was sitting in the Ground Floor of the library at the school which I attend, Hofstra University, and I heard these two kids talking about films.  Considering it's a place where silence is a rule that should be followed during one's stay there, this conversation was all everyone who didn't have headphones in their ears heard.  Boondock Saints came up, and my head perked up from my laptop, right away.  For you see, this cult classic is my favorite movie of all time.  But then one of the boys talking said three words in the same sentence as this movie title that I completely disagree with one hundred percent.  What he said was: "Boondock Saints is so overrated."  It took all the strength and willpower I had in me to get up, walk over to the opposite side of the room, and prove that kid wrong.  So, I'll just be putting my two cents in on here, proving why it's not overrated, and is one of the best films..ever.

First of all, the way that Boondock Saints was not thought to become a big deal like it eventually did.  When it was released almost thirteen years ago in 1999, it was only released in a few movie theaters for a rather short period of time.  And some of them were even paid to be released in them by Troy Duffy, the director himself.  Because it wasn't out for that long, not a lot of people got the opportunity to actually go out and watch it, and the reviews it was given..weren't that supportive.  Duffy wrote the script (this very script being the first one he has ever written), and directed it himself.  It didn't get much buzz when it was released in theaters, so it didn't really blow up until it started going on video sales.  It grossed about fifty million dollars that way, and  Boondock Saints developed a huge cult following.  This movie developed such an awesome fan base, and the cast and crew were really taken back, for this was something that definitely wasn't expected.  Duffy made a hell of a screenplay, and it was thrown around from company to company, and it luckily picked up.  He's definitely one of those people that have that rags-to-riches kind of stories, and I think that's really inspiring.

Second, the story that it has is great. It's nothing something that you see a lot. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, it's about two fraternal twin brothers, known as the Saints later on, Connor and Murphy MacManus who live in Boston, and in their own words, the two "destroy what is evil, so what's good may flourish".  They kill members of the Mafia and others that do evil acts upon others, due to a message that they got from the big man upstairs: God. The two brothers Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) get help from their friend Rocco, who works for the Italian Mob of Boston to get the names and locations of those they need to do away with.  There are plenty of twists and turns all throughout, and it's also known to have some comedic aspects to it, too.  The characters are all very unique, and all have a very funny side to them, which is yet another reason why this movie is so great.

As I said before, this movie has some lovable characters in it.  All are great actors and make their characters very realistic, and likable.  The brothers, their friend Rocco, and even three stooges Detectives, Dolly, Duffy, and Greenly (who develop a more important and funny role in the second film, which in my opinion is just as good) are all such great characters, the brothers being my favorite obviously.  Although the cops are out to get them, they too, make themselves hard to hate, because they're so funny.  Il Duce is someone who is seen as this horrifying and evil guy, but in reality, he's their father, and he goes from being this scary guy to a father protecting his boys, and supporting them in their fight to rid the world of the bad.  One of my favorite characters in..anything, is FBI Agent Paul Smecker (played by Willem DeFoe).  He's so clever, so smart, and very good at what he does.  Something great about this movie, is that you see that Smecker kind of suffers, as the film goes on, because he's supposed to stop what the brothers are doing..to catch them, and arrest them.  But he begins to believe that what they are doing is right. They're destroying all that's bad in their community with one kill at a time, and he has a battle with himself about it.  I love the different plots throughout this movie, and how everyone comes together in the end.  What the cast and Duffy do with these characters is something really special, and not something you see all that often.

Now, Boondock Saints isn't a movie I see as overrated according to that kid in the Ground Floor of the Library.  I see it as a cult classic, that should be seen by everyone.  No matter how many times I watch this movie (and even the second one that stays so true to the first), I find something new and great about it.  I can't do that with a lot of films.  I think it's great that everyone can do it with this one.  This film has always been really special to me, and I can quote it like it's my job.  I know every line, and I know the prayer (considering I'm a MacManus..no seriously that's my last name.  The first A was taken out of our name when our ancestors came to the US from Ireland.  Awesome, right?).  I always say that no one can do the prayer but me, because I "share that bond with the MacManus clan", according to my friends that dig the movie like I do.  Also, I don't consider it overrated, simply because it's a movie that no one can ever really get tired of watching.  It's got everything from guns, to comedy, to drama, to Willem Defoe dressing in drag! I mean, where else are you going to see that man dress in Drag!? It's my favorite movies, and it's a classic.  And this screenplay and this whole film was created by a man who made his living as a bartender.  He has never even written anything like this..ever.  His first time writing a script, and it turns into one of the greatest cult classics, ever.  If you haven't seen this movie, then you must! If you have...then you must know what I'm talking about.  So, seriously? Overrated? I don't think so.  If you're still thinking that, why don't you make like a tree..(and if you've seen the film, you'll definitely know the rest).  I mean, you're entitled to your opinion. I'm just putting in my two cents, and showing you why saying that it's overrated would be wrong.