The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is a 2009 American vigilanteaction thriller film written and directed by Troy Duffy, based on a story by Duffy and his brother Taylor. A sequel to The Boondock Saints (1999), the film stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Clifton Collins Jr., Julie Benz, Peter Fonda, and Billy Connolly. Set eight years after the events of the first film, it follows Irish fraternal twin brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus (Flanery and Reedus) living a quiet life in Ireland with their father Noah, formerly known as "Il Duce" (Connolly). However, when an assassin frames the twins for the murder of a Catholic priest, they return to Boston and join forces with Mexican underground fighter Romeo (Collins, Jr.) and FBI Special Agent Eunice Bloom (Benz), a former protégée of Paul Smecker.
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day had its world premiere in Boston on October 19, 2009, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 11, 2009. Despite negative reviews from critics, the film was a modest success at the box office, grossing $10.6 million against its $8 million budget. A sequel is currently in development, with Flanery and Reedus expected to return.
After the MacManus twins, Connor and Murphy, and their father, Noah (Il Duce), assassinated Joe Yakavetta, they fled to Ireland. Eight years later, their uncle Father Sibeal arrives to inform them that a renowned Boston priest was murdered by a mysterious assassin who attempted to frame the Saints by using their ritual assassination style. In response, the twins dig up their old gear and weapons and depart for the United States.
En route to Boston aboard a container ship, the twins meet a Mexican underground fighter named Romeo, who recognizes them as the Saints. Romeo convinces them to let him join them as their new partner. Hearing a radio broadcast regarding Joe's son, Concezio Yakavetta, they deduce that he must have hired the hitman who killed the priest to draw them out of hiding.
Meanwhile, Detectives Greenly, Dolly, and Duffy are at the scene of the priest's murder. They are greeted by Special Agent Eunice Bloom, the protégée of Paul Smecker (who has died) who has been assigned to investigate the murder and determine whether or not the Saints are responsible. She comes to the conclusion that the Saints were not who murdered the cleric, and begins an investigation to find the real assassin. She and the other officers find out the assassin is Ottilio Panza, a man who appears to be working for a mysterious man known only as "The Old Man".
Connor, Murphy, and Romeo hit a warehouse that is being used by a Chinese Triad gang to process heroin for Yakavetta. After killing everyone at the warehouse, Connor and Murphy reunite with their old bartender friend, Doc. They learn that the assassin was an independent contractor and that Yakavetta himself is hiding in the Prudential Tower. Later at the warehouse, now a crime scene, Bloom confirms that the Saints have returned. Bloom interrupts a massage in progress and hits a mob boss with a paddle, displaying her identity.
The twins and Romeo have one of Yakavetta's caporegimes named Gorgeous George set up a meeting with a group of mobsters at a bar, where they kill them. Panza arrives shortly after and attempts to ambush the twins, but Bloom arrives in time to save them by wounding Panza, who then flees. Bloom introduces herself, revealing her intentions to help the Saints in Smecker's place. The group then cleans up the crime scene to make it look as if the mobsters had turned on each other. Later, Bloom reunites the other detectives with the Saints, thus bringing them in on their plans.
Yakavetta calls a meeting with his crew, during which the Saints arrive and kill everyone, including Yakavetta. Bloom interrogates Yakavetta's consigliere Jimmy and learns of the Old Man's involvement with Panza. The crime scene is visited by FBI Special Agent Kuntsler, who takes over the gang murder case after suspending Bloom. Later at the bar, Greenly arrives to celebrate the boys' victory, but is shot and killed by Panza. Noah, earlier having decided to help his sons, unexpectedly arrives to demand Panza tell him the Old Man's location. They engage in a type of "Russian roulette" stand-off, and after Panza still refuses to answer, Noah angrily shoots him dead.
Noah reveals to the group that in 1958 New York, he watched a trio of mobsters brutally murder his father. Consumed with rage and revenge, Noah hunted down and killed the mobsters with the help of his best friend Louie, who is revealed to be the Old Man. Noah still felt unsatisfied, so Louie helped him pick out mobsters to kill. They continued this until 1975, when Louie gave Noah up to the police.
Bloom illegally obtains a file regarding Louie's location and gives it to Noah. Louie, anticipating the Saints' arrival at his mansion, has several hit men stationed on the grounds. When the MacManus family arrives, Louie reveals that he had only used Noah to eliminate the competition in the Mafia, afterwards giving him up to the police when he was no longer useful. After this, however, the Mafia cast Louie himself out for the same reason. He then helped rebuild the Yakavetta family after Joe's demise and let the Saints take out the rest of the organization so Louie could take control. Louie signals the hit men waiting to take out the Saints to make their move, but the Saints kill them all. Noah suffers a fatal gunshot wound, but kills Louie before he dies. The police arrive and arrest the wounded Connor, Murphy, and Romeo.
Bloom meets with Father Sibeal, who has arranged to take her to a safe place out of the country to flee FBI prosecution. She is shocked to discover that Sibeal has been working with Smecker, who faked his own death and developed a network of support for the Saints and their work. Smecker tells Bloom his plans to break the Saints out of prison.
As protesters outside of the prison shout for the freedom of the Saints, Connor and Murphy stare out of their window at the sea of prisoners in the yard, finding that they will have plenty of work while they wait to be freed.
Cast
Norman Reedus (left), Troy Duffy (center), and Sean Patrick Flanery (right) promoting The Boondock Saints II at Drexel University in Philadelphia
Sean Patrick Flanery as Connor MacManus, one-half of the MacManus twins. In addition to the "Veritas" tattoo on his left hand, he now has a tattoo of Christ's upper torso and face on his back.
Norman Reedus as Murphy MacManus, the other half of the MacManus twins. In addition to the "Aequitas" tattoo on his right hand, he now has a tattoo of Christ's nailed feet on his back.
Clifton Collins Jr. as Romeo, a Mexican fighter who becomes the twins' new sidekick.
Billy Connolly as Noah 'Il Duce' MacManus, the father of the MacManus twins.
Matt Lemche as Young Noah MacManus
Julie Benz as FBI Special Agent Eunice Bloom, the agent assigned to the gang murders connected to the Saints. She is a former apprentice of Paul Smecker.
Willem Dafoe as FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker, an ally of the MacManus twins in the first film. He fakes his own death and reveals at the end that he has started an agency funded by the Catholic Church that will help the Saints escape from jail and continue their work as vigilantes.
Judd Nelson as Concezio 'Little Yaka' Yakavetta, the son of Don 'Papa' Joe Yakavetta, who was executed by the Saints in court eight years ago. He hires a hitman to execute a priest to call out the Saints.
Bob Marley as Detective David Greenly, a detective partnered with 'Dolly' and Duffy.
David Ferry as Detective 'Dolly' Alapopskalius, a detective partnered with Duffy and Greenly.
Brian Mahoney as Detective Duffy, a detective partnered with 'Dolly' and Greenly.
Peter Fonda as Louie 'The Roman' Romano, Noah's former friend, who had him sent to prison in 1975.
Robert Mauriell as Young Louie Romano
Daniel DeSanto as Ottilio 'The Little Man' Panza, a hitman of short stature hired by Yakavetta to kill a priest.
David Della Rocco as David 'The Funny Man' Della Rocco, the twins' former sidekick, who was killed by Joe Yakavetta in the first film. He appears in flashbacks and dream sequences.
Paul Johansson as FBI Special Agent Bill Kuntsler, the agent who suspends Special Agent Bloom and takes over the gang murder case.
Bob Rubin as George 'Gorgeous George', Yakavetta's underboss from Brooklyn. He is forced by Special Agent Bloom and the twins to give information on the Yakavetta clan.
Mairtin O'Carrigan as Father Sibeal MacManus, he is the cousin of Noah MacManus.
Louis Di Bianco as Patronazzi, an old mobster and friend of Louie's.
Aaron Berg as Joe 'Jo-Jo' Rhama, one Yakavetta's top lieutenants.
Richard Fitzpatrick as The Chief, Chief of the Boston Police Department.
Tig Fong as Asian Gangster, leader of the Chinese Triads who is smuggling drugs for Yakavetta.
Pedro Salvin as Uncle Cesar, Romeo's uncle and an alley of the Saints.
Sweeney MacArthur as Jacob MacManus, Noah's father who was killed by mobsters in the 1950s.
Dwayne McLean as Father Douglas McKinney, a priest who was killed in attempt to frame the Saints.
Robb Wells as Jimmy 'The Gofer' Green, Concezio Yakavetta's consigliere
Production
After years in development hell,[2] the success of the first film's theatrical rerelease spurred 20th Century Fox to finance a sequel. In March 2008, Troy Duffy confirmed that the film was greenlit.[3]Pre-production on the film started in early September 2008.[4]Principal photography took place in Ontario from October 20, 2008 to December 10, 2008.[5]
Duffy kept a video diary of the film's progress on YouTube, with some of the shooting sequences, and "question and answer" segments from fans answered by the film's stars.[6]
Marketing and release
The film's first trailer was officially released online on September 2, 2009, via IGN.[7][8] The film was initially released in 67 theaters in the Northeastern and Western areas of the continental US,[9] and was gradually released into more theaters in the following weeks.[2][10]
Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 23% approval rating based on 43 reviews, with a weighted average of 4.12/10. The site's consensus reads: "This sequel to the cult favorite The Boondock Saints is more of the same -- unoriginal, absurd, violent, over-the-top, and occasionally mean-spirited".[11]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 24 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[12]
Home media
On March 9, 2010 the film was released on single disc DVD and 2-Disc Steelbook Special Edition DVD, as well as Blu-ray with special features including deleted scenes, audio commentary, and a behind the scenes featurette.[13] As of June 2012, the film had a limited release and it has grossed $50 million in DVD sales.
On July 16, 2013, the film was released in a new Director's Cut as a Best Buy Exclusive release.[citation needed]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack became available for preorder in late March on the official Boondock Saints Store website and became available for purchase and digital download at other retailers April 7, 2010.
A six-issue comic book series, made up of three two-issue chapters written by Troy Duffy and published by 12 Gauge Comics, was released in May 2010 as a companion to the film.[14] The story is a more in-depth version of Il Duce's backstory together with the story of a hit the twin brothers performed that does not appear in the film.
There was also a mini-book available from the official Boondock Saints website which told a story that took place prior to the strip club scene from the first film. Both will eventually be released in a single graphic novel.[15]
Sequel
Director Troy Duffy spoke about a potential sequel in an interview on June 13, 2011. He said that "We’ve been approached to do a possible Boondock Saints TV series. So the fans may be getting a part 3 as a television show. We might be able to pull that off….I actually called both Sean and Norman and they both said “hell yeah, we’ll drop everything.” On March 21, 2012 it was indicated by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus that Boondock Saints 3 is being written, tentatively titled "The Boondock Saints III: Saints Preserve Us."[15][16] However, on September 14, Norman Reedus stated that there would be no third film.[17]
Again, on February 26, 2013, Troy Duffy stated that he was getting together with Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery to resume talks about Boondock Saints 3, in hopes that they could make the film a reality for fans. Later in 2013 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, Sean Patrick Flanery confirmed that The Boondock Saints 3 is being worked on by Troy Duffy by saying "After the recent tragedies hit Boston I texted (director) Troy Duffy to ask him about when he would work on the third one and he replied ‘on it’".[18] On July 16, 2013, Troy Duffy stated in an interview with CraveOnline that he was halfway finished with the script for The Boondock Saints III.[19]
On May 6, 2017, Sean Patrick Flannery announced on Twitter that he and Norman Reedus had walked away from production of Boondock Saints III with no further explanation, leading the future of the series in doubt.[20]
In November 2021, a third Boondock Saints film was officially announced, with Reedus and Flanery reprising their roles as Connor and Murphy MacManus and Duffy returning to direct. Production was slated to begin in May 2022.[21]
In March 2024, a "reimagining" of the franchise was officially announced, with Thunder Road Films joining Impossible Dream Entertainment and rights holder Dragonfly Films as a production company on the film. Reedus and Flanery will reprise their roles and serve as executive producers, although Duffy, who plans to continue the story through a series of books, will not return as director.[22]
Related Research Articles
The Boondock Saints is a 1999 American vigilante action thriller film written and directed by Troy Duffy in his feature directorial debut. Starring Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, and Billy Connolly, the film follows Irish fraternal twin brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus, who become vigilantes after killing two members of the Russian mafia in self defense. After both experience an epiphany, the twins, together with their best friend "Funny Man" Rocco (Rocco), set out on a mission to rid Boston of the criminal underworld in the name of God, all the while being pursued by FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker (Dafoe).
Erin go Bragh, sometimes Erin go Braugh, is the anglicisation of an Irish language phrase, Éirinn go Brách, and is used to express allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as "Ireland Forever."
Mitsuru Miyamoto is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Tokyo. He is attached to Theatre Company Subaru. He is best known for Keiichi Nakagawa from Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, Roger Smith from The Big O, Ougai Mori from Bungo Stray Dogs, Gaku Yashiro from Erased, Steven A. Starphase from Blood Blockade Battlefront and Maiza Avaro from Baccano!, as well as the Japanese voice of adult Simba from The Lion King. In the live action field, Miyamoto is the famous dubbing over artist of Ethan Hawke, Adrien Brody, Matthew Modine, Gil Bellows and Guy Pearce. He was also the first dub-over artist of Keanu Reeves and Brad Pitt in their early days.
Sean Patrick Flanery is an American actor. He is known for playing Connor MacManus in The Boondock Saints (1999) and its sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009), Greg Stillson in the television series The Dead Zone, Jeremy "Powder" Reed in Powder (1995), Indiana Jones in the George Lucas television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as well as Bobby Dagen in Saw 3D (2010). He is also known for his role as Sam Gibson on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless in 2011. He starred in Devil's Carnival, a short film which was screened on tour beginning in April 2012.
"Bart the Murderer" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 10, 1991. In the episode, Bart stumbles upon a Mafia club after having bad luck at school. The owner of the bar, mobster Fat Tony, hires Bart as a bartender. When Principal Skinner goes missing after punishing him at school, Bart is put on trial for his murder.
Troy Duffy is an American filmmaker. He has directed two films, The Boondock Saints and its sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. Duffy was the subject of the 2003 documentary film Overnight.
Overnight is a 2003 American documentary film by Tony Montana and Mark Brian Smith. The film details the rise and stumble of filmmaker and musician Troy Duffy, the writer-director of The Boondock Saints, and was filmed at his request.
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor and former fashion model. He made his acting debut in the 1990s, starring in the role of Murphy MacManus in The Boondock Saints, followed by supporting roles in successful box office films 8MM,Blade II, and American Gangster. Reedus rose to prominence for his portrayal of Daryl Dixon in the hit AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2022). Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has starred in his own spin-off series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, since 2023. Reedus is the host of the AMC show Ride with Norman Reedus (2016–present). He has modeled for various fashion designers, including Prada.
Clifton Craig Collins Jr. is an American actor. After starting in 1990, with small roles in film and on television, Collins gained attention for his performance as Cpl. Ramon Aguilar, a prisoner "serving" under an imprisoned general played by Robert Redford in the 2001 film The Last Castle. His extensive work includes featured roles in films such as One Eight Seven (1997), Traffic (2000), Capote (2005), Star Trek (2009) and Pacific Rim (2013). Collins' extensive work on television series includes Crisis Center (1997), Thief (2006), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, The Event (2010–2011), and Westworld (2016–2020), as well as the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).
Fool Moon is a 2001 contemporary fantasy novel by author Jim Butcher. It is the second novel in The Dresden Files, which follows the character of Harry Dresden, present-day Chicago's only advertising professional wizard.
Masaru Ikeda is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is a graduate of the Tokyo Metro Fifth Commerce Senior High School and is currently affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. He is best known for his roles in Yatterman, Sakura Taisen and Japanese dubbing roles for Danny Glover.
Hero Wanted is a 2008 American thriller film directed by Brian Smrz in his directorial debut. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., with a supporting cast of Ray Liotta, Kim Coates, and Norman Reedus. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on April 29, 2008.
Gerard Parkes was an Irish-born Canadian actor. He was born in Dublin and moved to Toronto in 1956. He is known for playing "Doc" on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television series Fraggle Rock and the bartender in the film The Boondock Saints and its sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day.
The Church of the Covenant is a historic church at 67 Newbury Street in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A National Historic Landmark, it was built in 1865-1867 by the Central Congregational Church, and is now affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. The church was designed by Richard M. Upjohn, and its distinctive interior is largely the work of Tiffany & Co.
The fictional character Frank Castle / Punisher, a comic book vigilante antihero created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru and featured in Marvel Comics publications, has appeared as a main character in multiple theatrical, several animated straight-to-video films, and three fan films. Most notably, he has appeared in two self-titled films, the first in 1989 with Dolph Lundgren in the title role and the second in 2004 with Thomas Jane in the title role, as well as Punisher: War Zone, starring Ray Stevenson.
Sinners and Saints is a 2010 action-thriller film directed by and co-written by William Kaufman and starring Johnny Strong, Kevin Phillips, Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flanery, Bas Rutten, Method Man, Kim Coates and Tom Berenger. The film is set in the dark underbelly of New Orleans. It was released in North America on DVD and Blu-ray on January 10, 2012.
Thomas Francis Duffy is an American actor. He has appeared as the sadistic rapist Charles Wilson in Death Wish II, the paleontologist Dr. Robert Burke in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and as the football-loving dad in Varsity Blues.
Larry J. Blake was an American actor.
Frank and Penelope is a 2022 American romantic crime film written and directed by Sean Patrick Flanery. The film stars Billy Budinich, Caylee Cowan, Kevin Dillon, Donna D'Errico, Lin Shaye, Johnathon Schaech, and Sean Patrick Flanery. The film is a road movie that begins in the city of Austin, Texas traveling along a deserted stretch of dirt road miles from civilization. It then takes place in the ghost town of Terlingua, Texas which devolves into chaos and violence after it is discovered that the proprietor of the motel and diner, Chisos, is a psychotic cannibal along with his sadistic family. Frank and Penelope suddenly become immersed in a hellish nightmare, on a life and death journey, where escape is just a heart-pounding breath away.
The Boondock Saints 3 is an upcoming American vigilante action thriller film. A sequel to both The Boondock Saints (1999) and The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009), this film will see Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus reprise their roles from the first two films as well as serving as executive producers, but Troy Duffy will not return to direct this film; instead he will be continuing their story in a series of books. This film is also branded as a "reimagining" of the franchise, as Thunder Road Films joins Impossible Dream Entertainment and rights holder Dragonfly Films as a production company on the film.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
