Viewed in
2010
Formats
DVD (Unrated)
Premise
In a movie more famous for its director's difficulties and cult status, two Irish-American brothers find their calling in killing evil people in Boston.
Liked
The slick gunfights.
Hated
The slick gunfights.
Thoughts
This was a rare movie that I liked and despised at the same time.
One thing to like was the performances by Billy Connolly and Willem Dafoe. Connolly's supporting role was fun, but Dafoe was most enjoyable as he sunk his teeth into his character with zest and pop. The gunfights were cool, with slow-motion, camera tricks, grand posturing, backed by appropriate music. An especially creative fight was the reenactment/flashback hybrid in which Dafoe's character appeared side-by-side with the two brothers, mimicking their violence.
While I was relishing the eye candy, part of me hated it simultaneously. Each second of these moments felt like a well-produced/well-financed student film from a kid who watched Pulp Fiction and John Woo one too many times. It gave off an odor of pretentiousness that rubbed me the wrong way.
I thought the (sometimes implausible) story and characters were decent enough to string the action scenes together. However, the last act was a complete mess of illogical confusion. Dafoe's character especially jumped the shark. A giant plot hole was why an Italian mafia's secret weapon was not one of their kind. Perhaps there was a Boston/Irish/Catholic stuff that I missed that would have made the story more enjoyable.
On one hand, it felt like a sorry excuse for grandiose gunfighting. On the other hand, I appreciated Troy Duffy's uncompromising vision, and I want to cheer for people who get a chance to make movies. With all the hype and cult status, however, it was more style than substance.
What I would change
Not sure.
