An indie thriller with a quirky cast, The Boondock Saints was once an expensive Miramax production.
We chart the film’s strange history…
So what went wrong, and was it really as bad as the 90s critics suggested?
In 1997, Troy Duffy was riding a crest of success and media celebrity.
The producer even threw in the bar Duffy worked in as an added sweetener to the deal.
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As captured in the documentaryOvernight, things were initially looking promising for Duffys movie.
Gradually, as the documentary records, the deal went sour.
Despite all the setbacks, Duffy remained resilient.
Im not worried about making enemies with Miramax, he says in one part theOvernightdocumentary.
In fact, Im looking forward to it… And then theres Billy Connolly, who shows up as a convicted murderer turned two-fisted gunman.
Then again,The Boondock Saintsis never afraid to call attention to its own absurdity.
Television is to blame for this, Agent Smecker opines while surveying one scene of destruction.
Theyve seen some bad television.
This is James Bond shit, thats what this is.
Professionals dont do this!
This self-consciousness is very much in the post-Tarantino mould, as are the sundry moments of violent excess.
Unfortunately, the films second half doesnt match the intrigue of the first.
Its interesting to see Smecker pick apart what Connor and Murphy have been up to.
HadThe Boondock Saintsremained under the Miramax banner, its cast would have been very different.
Whatever took place behind the scenes, thatThe Boondock Saintsfinally got made is something of a marvel in itself.
