Boondock Saints Notes: What about Connor?

Sean Patrick Flanery hasn't won yet, but I did just watch the two movies in the last two days ... actually, I didn't watch them. They are more like old friends coming to visit. The distance between my office and the big screen in the living room is one thin wall so I can turn on these two particular films when home alone and not actually have to watch every scene. I can listen while working and still enjoy.

Has anyone realized -- I hadn't -- that I have never discussed “Boondock Saints” as a movie? I reference it, I talk about, I post things about it, but I never talk about it as a whole. I didn't realize that until just now and I think the reason is I always sorta just thought everyone had already seen it so why would I have to talk about it ... :)

But looking back over some of the things I have written, I am beginning to think I may have been wrong in my own assessment. Maybe Murphy is my favorite.  But what about Connor? What is he like? Besides being the oldest, because regardless of what Ma might say, Connor does view himself as Murphy’s big brother and protector. I think Connor's personality can be summed up in one single scene in the first "Boondock Saints" film.

"They exited out the front door. They had no idea what they were in for. Now they're staring at six men with guns drawn. It was a f**king ambush …"

When facing down Il Duce, the brothers drew while Rocco scrambled. Rocco went down first, disappearing into the bushes to the left. A minute later, Murphy was hit and fell to the right, still fighting, but down. It was Connor, the ever present protector who remained standing. Even after he was hit, he stayed standing. At the first break in the battle, the very first thing he did? He made sure baby brother was okay. Wounded, bloody, bullets still coming, Connor still remained standing. It was him who kept it together when

Il Duce had fled. This was the first time a plan really did go terribly wrong. It was the first time they were not getting away with just leaving and they were paying the price dearly. Connor got working on the blood with the spray. He got Rocco to his feet (Murphy got himself up). It was Connor, in this total chaos, still giving orders, keeping his head, making sure they got out, they were alright and they covered their tracks.

Some of his plans – okay – maybe they don’t always go exactly right. Does anybody not laugh when the word "rope" is used even casually in a conversation?  But Connor -- he is the one coming up with those plans and always finding a way. When you think of terms “he’s got your back?” Murphy has Connor's back, too. But Connor has everyone’s back, especially Murphy's.

In the church? I have no doubt Connor would have fired no matter how much he loved Rocco. His contained violence and protectiveness matches, if not surpasses Murphy’s. The playfulness that we see in Murphy? It isn’t as present in Connor though the sense of humor is:

[after Rocco gets his finger shot off]

Rocco: Feels like its still there.

Connor: Yeah, well it's not.

Yeap, this is why I had problems before … back and forth to the question, who is your favorite? Hell, I love Rocco, too. His cluelessness in so many ways, while being the philosophy major on the roof top and ice rink? I loved it. But, I do suppose when it comes right down to it, you do have to choose one: Connor or Murphy.

Bottom, right photo: my favorite from the movie, summing up, in my opinion, the reality of the relationship between the MacManus brothers. They would kill or die for each other and they feel the other’s pain, it is so real, so vivid. Each of these men, in *every* situation, would put the other first.