Film Analysis: The Boondock Saints

Raising the question of morality is essential to the works of a good anti-hero. The framework of a sufficiently run society is based on the principles built behind good moral and judgement of the people. The McMannus brothers, from The Boondock Saints, epitomize raising the doubt of morality. The two Irish-Catholic brothers from Boston serve as vigilantes whom believe are shepards sent from God. Connor and Murphy McMannus take the utilitarian approach by taking the judgement of the law into their own hands. The brothers generally target Russian and Italian mobsters who have done harm to society. Motivated by religion, these two brothers use lethal force to serve “good” for society. An antihero makes their own behavior questionable in the eyes of society. A protagonist antihero, generally values some of the same traits as an antagonist. Their morals are typically flawed in regards to societal norms. Violence and

The final scene of this film is a series of interviews with the people of Boston giving their opinion of “the saints”. There were vastly mixed feelings towards the brothers by the people. Some supported their doings while others despised the idea of them. There were answers that varied from “Somebody can just go out, get a gun and shoot somebody because they feel that they're doing some good in the world?” To “You walk into some kids bedroom and they're gonna be there. You've got Batman, Superman and these Saints.” This relates back to the traits of an antihero raising the doubts of morality. When society cannot decipher whether they are good or evil, that is when you have an antihero. The use of these interviews at the end of the film really puts what a hero and an antihero is into perspective. Some would say that they are evil due to their use of lethal force upon their victims. While others, would say they are saints for riding the streets of crime and