Zachary FenellBoondock Saints
March 4th 2009 19:05
Boondock Saints, 1999
Or I should at least say that I still know of at least one person per year who gets "Veritas" and "Aequitas" tattooed bilaterally somewhere (although more commonly, they screw it up and spell it without the leading A). Why did these twin concepts of Truth and Justice resonate so darn well with us? What kind of archetype are they hitting on?
The plot revolves around a pair of twins who have been brought up in the era of the conflict in Ireland. In their new homeland of America, they respond to attempts to exploit their fellow Irishmen with the same types of extraordinary means that they were raised to use. This act of striking back against the exploitation opens up deeper and deeper levels of corruption and requirement of further action.
There is a soft spot in our hearts for the true anti-hero, for the vigilante that is willing to do what must be done, regardless of the legal consequences. They realize that the law is not absolute, and that only the will of the people makes the law work. When even those responsible for its upkeep lose sight of the purpose of the law, then the law must be reevaluated, and in the meantime, there are harsh realities that must be dealt with. Justice does not wait around for the meek to eventually balance the scales.
The "news interviews" at the end showing the different sides of the public reaction really sum up what we as a people for any nation experience when faced with actions such as these. We are repulsed by the audacity and seemingly inevitable violence (the only true law of nature), but we are also excited and comforted by the concept that someone, somewhere, is willing to do what must be done to protect, to preserve, and to see justice done.
That, and it single-handed brought the Pea Coat back into fashion, and you know how much I love that. (mmmmm...)
4.5 Stars
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