Written and Directed by Troy Duffy

Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, Billy Connolly, Ron Jeremy, Carlo Rota.

In Boston, two Irish brothers, Connor and Murphy MacManus (Flannery and Reedus) live a relatively peaceful life. One night, they get into a scuffle with some Russian mob gangsters – which ends with the MacManus brothers killing them in self defence and FBI Special Agent Paul Smecker (Dafoe) arrives on the scene to investigate.

When it is discovered what the brothers did, all charges are dropped – but as the days go by they start ‘hitting’ more Russian gangsters after a ‘call from God’ – and Smecker is investigating each bizarre crime scene.

When their pal Rocco, who is low level in the Italian mob, discovers his boss Papa Joe (Rota) sent him on a death mission – he asks the boys to help him take out Papa Joe’s number 2, Lapazzi, (Jeremy). Once the hit is done, Papa Joe calls Il Duce (Connolly) a dangerous hit-man to take out Rocco and the brothers.

There is some impressive direction from first time director Duffy, with some of the action sequences very well done. The most impressive moment is the ‘neighbourhood shootout’ in which Smecker replays what he thinks happened, while it happens behind him. The ‘third act’ reveal might be either a WOW moment, or a ‘called it’ moment.

Most of the cast do a very good job, with only a few minor inconsistencies such as Reedus struggling the Irish accent throughout, and some possibly non actors in pivotal roles who struggled with some important scenes. The MVP goes to Dafoe, who plays the openly gay Smecker – who both flaunts his sexuality. The third act house shoot out scene, in which Dafoe ‘dresses up’ gets a round of applause from me.

The screenplay is sound, and complements the identity of the surroundings, and the characters, that being Boston and Irish. The score also has some Irish undertones, and is both haunting at times, and then has some techie moments when the mood calls for it.

This gets a strong recommendation from me, and was followed by a sequel a decade later.

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