Written & Directed By: Troy Duffy
Story By: Taylor Duffy & Troy Duffy
Cinematography By: Miroslaw Baszak
Editor: Bill DeRonde & Paul Kumpata
Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connelly, Julie Benz, Judd Nelson, Clifton Collins Jr. Peter Fonda
For the last 8 years the brothers have been living with their father on a sheep farm deep in isolated Ireland. One day their uncle tells them that they have been framed for the murder of a Bostonian Catholic priest. The boys must return to Boston to not only clear their names but find the men who framed them.
This is more of the same except worse and with more money. The original film I felt has a voice even though it was obviously influenced by Quentin Tarantino movies and when you ,make a copy it's not as sharp. So while the first one was fun to pass the time. Watching this is like watching a copy of a copy. So this isn't as sharp as the original copy. The film is actually surprisingly dumbed down. The first film wasn’t genius but at least it has it’s quirks. Here it feels like it is trying to be super macho. Like a Michael bay film without the effects.
There has been a lot said of director Troy Duffy and his ego and the extent of his talent. Just see the documentary OVERNIGHT to find out all about that. This film does more to prove that documentary right as because of the cult audience of the original, he was able to get financing for a sequel. Even though it appears his franchise is his only foot in the door as far as projects as he hasn't made a seperate project. It might be him or the audience that hasn't allowed him to grow.
When it comes to sequels, the films are suppose to be bigger and better. Here there is more action, but the action sequences aren't really that impressive. It feels like a sequel as it seems more interested in action then plot or story of any kind. It’s like the first film only bigger and surprisingly not too much better, other then a better visual sense. That at least with the first films limited visual sense matched it style. Here the visuals sense is bigger though the story feels limited.
The film feels contrived, but it's budget limits it. While I am happy to see Judd Nelson in this film, but he doesn't have much to work with. So he is disappointing.
The few things I liked that worked were Julie Benz. Her character is captivating and ridiculous at the same time and I suspect was inspired by Kyra Sedgewick's character from the television show THE CLOSER as she is written as a Character who could have her own series of films.
Three actors in this film have both starred in movies from the Saw film series. Julie Benz and Joris Jarsky in Saw V and Sean Patrick Flanery in Saw 3D. Another actor from the first Boondock Saints was also in Saw V, Carlo Rota. Despite its limited release, this movie made more money in its opening weekend than the entire box office run of the first film.
Clifton Collins Jr. Seems to be trying too hard as their new recruit, but mostly comedic sidekick. He has some Good scenes, but ends up disappointing though he gives an energetic performance. I can't tell if it's the script or direction that fails him.
Troy Duffy wrote the part of Romeo, the Saints' sidekick, specifically for his friend Clifton Collins Jr.. Coincidentally, the part of Rocco, the sidekick in the first film, was written specifically (and named for) actor David Della Rocco.
Though David Della Rocco shows up again in this film as he was one of the best ingredients in the first film. He is used so little and really adds not too much this time around.
The film just feels stale to me and seems smaller scaled then the original even though the way the story goes it seems to be a bigger landscape and syndicate. The film aims to be bigger but feels smaller.
Grade: D
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