I'm a sucker for coming of age tales, no doubt about it and inspite of this one not having a huge amount going on in the plot department, I still dug it a fair deal.
This comes down mostly to the casting. Emile is pretty good as is Jena, Jodie and D'Nofrio, but my favourite was definately Keiran Culkin. Quite why the guy is not a bigger star I don't know. He has a likeable quality about him that really shows through here. Considering that his character is a bit of a douche, that's quite impressive.
The story itself has a number of darker elements which are skirted over but never explored and I wasn't too sure what the actual focus of the film was. The use of animation was pretty novel and it was fun to watch the kids superhero alter ego's act out their story but for me it started to muddle the film.
I really liked what they were trying to do here and although it wasn't always successful I have to admire their passion.
De todas las peliculas con temas parecidos que pueda haber, esta es la unica que he visto que muestra lo que se siente ser un adolescente y la perdida de la inocencia.
Here's a movie that ends without ever actually ending. It's got a few emotional and narrative plots working that are interesting and then it decides, instead of concluding those in any way shape or form, let's just kill off this guy and roll credits. That's too bullshitty to be a spoiler.
Acting genius Jena Malone gives a quality performance alongside Emile Hirsch, Vincent D'Onofrio and of course the unfailing Culkin gene, and it's safe to call the cast of this movie totally flawless. Furthermore, it's completely unique with a smart script and a sound (albeit slightly melodramatic) ending. No real criticisms to pin on this one, except that it could have had a more comedic spin, but that's really a matter of taste. Brilliant...
Th Dangerous lives of alter boys is a suprisingly great coming of age film which I happened to catch on film4 last night by chance, and what a treat it was.
The story focuses on four teen boys lin the 1970's led by Francis(Emile Hirsh) and Tim(Kieran Culkin) who study at a strict catholic school under the tough regimes of Sister Assumpta(Jodie Foster). As a way to escape the rules and oppression suffered at the school the boys participate in pranks and all sorts of msicheif. Their main form of escape is their comic book, Atomic Trinity. Each of the characters in the comic represent one of the boys from Major Screw to Captain ass kicker, there's even a character representation of sister assumpta as their evil nemesis Peg Leg.
On one particular school field trip the boys hatch a plan to steal a cougar and place it in Assumpta's office, a little unbeliveable yes but its great to see the effort and imagination the boys put into the idea.
What's so wonderful about this film is not only are you watching a conventional form of storytelling but thrown into the mix is segments from the boys comic in animation, brilliantly done(I'd nearly watch a full movie based on the animation alone).
A great coming of age movie with alot of heart, if you liked stand by me you'll love this
Honestly I don't know how to review this movie. It is one of my favorites ever. I love the acting, the cast and the comic animation. It's a formula that suits me perfectly.
Refreshing film about best friends who dream of living out their lives like the comic books they're obsessed with. Great acting from all involved, especially D'Onofrio, who plays the coolest priest in history.
Could have been a great movie if not for all the lame comic book stuff. Plus the best conflict (Jena Malone and Emile Hirsch romance) wasn't even really resolved.
Not as good as my friend thinks. It was a pretty typical movie, teenagers rebel by smoking, drinking and vandalism, I?ve seen this stuff in a million different movies before. There was nothing that made this movie stand out to me. The girl?s confession was weird and don?t really know where its place was in the movie. I understand that because of her confession their comic book got confiscated (in a roundabout way), but it was a pretty random part of the movie, I mean the movie didn?t even address it towards the end of the film, which makes me believe it was only inserted into the movie for shock value and didn?t really hold any deeper meaning. Jodie Foster?s character should have had way more development, it was crazy that the movie just expected us to accept her as a total bitch or did it want us to sympathise with her?.I have no idea, because I was never given enough information about her.
I'm going to go wild and give this movie 5 stars, which according to some people, I do ALL THE TIME. But honestly, TDLOAB deserves it. Having heard nothing about it, I was suprised by how good it actually was. It was well structured and paced - it opened with a great first scene, it got to the point quickly and didn't linger unneccesarily on any scenes, and it treated the audience as intelligent. The acting was also first rate - Jodie Foster is always good, but the stand-outs were Hirsch, Malone (who played a young Jo Fo in the film Contact), and Culkin - definitely some of the best young actors around today. If I felt like it, I could criticise the ending, but I'd rather focus on the film's merits here. Go see this movie. You can thank me later.
the only thing that bothered me about this movie was the whole comic book.. thing. it strayed from the feel of the rest of the movie.. kieran culkin and emile hirsch, excellent job as per usual.
this is a simple, believable coming-of-age film. granted, certain overused plot elements surface (such as the vandalism-prone teenage boys and Jena Malone's "seemingly innocent but troubled" motif), but this is a genuinely enjoyable film that's both dramatically charming and subtly humourous.
I came across this indie gem one day at my local Blockbuster. I looked at it and it seemed like it would be an o.k. way to kill two hours. There was really nothing else in the videostore, so I decided to rent it. Boy, am I glad I did. I really appreciated the movie and related to it, after all I do go to a Catholic High School. 'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys' is actually a great coming-of-age tale set in the Catholic school setting of the 1970s. Just by reading the title I thought it was about pedophile Catholic priests or something, but it's really about two friends who are the altar boys at their church/school and their adventures as they discover what's life is all about... or their interpretation of it.
The two boys in 'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys' are Francis Doyle (Emile Hirsch - The Girl Next Door, The Emperor's Club) and Michael Sullivan (Kieran Culkin - Igby Goes Down, Home Alone). They are two fifteen year old rebels that have a passion for comics and writing and illustrating their own. They despise their tough-as-nails and strict one-legged Catholic nun school teacher, Sister Assumpta (played by Two Time Academy Award Winner Jodie Foster - The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs). The two boys make themselves their own creative superheroes in their comic and have Sister Assumpta be the evil motorcycle peddling nun from hell that the two superheroes battle, along with the boys' other two friends who provide superheroes for their comic too. The film switches from real-life to the creative comic book setting during conflicts in the story, and I think that it's done very stylish and neat. The two boys rebel against their teacher and misbehave in front of her constantly, especially Michael (Culkin) who drives her absolutely nuts. The boys rebel by doing other things that the nun doesn't know about like, drink, smoke pot and steal and damage church property. The film contains some funny moments, and as the story unfolds Francis (Hirsch) becomes interested in the girl who lives next door to him Margie (Jena Malone - Saved!, Cold Mountain), a cool, nice, beautiful and independent girl with a deep and dark secret that challenges Francis. I won't give it away though.
There are many great aspects to this film. Most notably is the acting. Emile Hirsch is nothing short of incredible as the genuine misfit Francis and Jena Malone is equally as good as the sweet yet complex Margie. Jodie Foster is hysterical and always a pleasure to watch as the uptight Catholic school nun and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent's' Vincent D'Onofrio has a somewhat small role as an interesting Catholic school priest who smokes like a chimney. The stand-out of the film however is Kieran Culkin. He is definitely the most talented performer in his family, and he gives an astounding performance as Michael Sullivan that puts him on the top of the list of the best child actors working in Hollywood currently. Culkin gave an equally amazing performance in Burr Steer's neurotic and darkly hilarious film debut 'Igby Goes Down' which was released the same year as 'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys'. Peter Care does a fabulous job with this, his feature film debut, and the valley's Todd MacFarlane (creator of Spawn) provides the comic book illustration for the animated scenes.
All in all this is a great coming-of-age movie, with a lot of heart and intelligence. It has some flaws like dragging a little towards the beginning, being a little unclear towards the end and having some freaky and unnecessary ghost sequence towards the middle of the film. I'd recommend this to anyone who attends Catholic High School because it is a great movie but it's also something you could relate to. Next time you are at the videostore and can't find anything to watch, maybe pick up 'The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys'. Chances are you won't regret it. Grade: B+
hahaha, so funny story.... my little brother was like.....13 at the time, and i was alowed to watch PG movies, but mother daerest wasn't sure if she wanted her baby boy corrupted intot the world of the backs of shirtless ladies and skirts cut higher than the knee....so she rented this movie....... bahahahahahaha, omg!!! it was like the closest thing to porn i had ever seen! well it was comic book porn of 15 year old boys but jokes about a nun with a peg leg and sexual relations between priests and nuns, school boys and good little christian girls.... insest, death by tiger!! haha, not at all what you expect. its like the sin city meets.....dawsons creek! i mean, no its a highly respecatable and conservatice movie that is educational for young innnocent christians youths. pssht!
Based on the incomplete novel by Chris Fuhrman DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS is a good film on teenage life, loss, and friendship.
Four friends create a strange, but all the same intriguing comic book that is loosely based on their lives. They are the ?trouble-making? type. Fooling around, having fun. Ya know, drinking, smoking, stealing school statues, plotting revenge on a nun, the usual.
It?s the basic story of a teen that has a little more than usual on his plate.
But it?s so much more interesting than that. After Sister Assumpta is given their comic book and all its sexual and recognizable drawings of her and others, Francis and Tim (his best friend) are immediately suspended and soon to be expelled.
That is where the nun-plotting comes into action.
Earlier in the film, they had a fun trip to the zoo . . . Where a cougar was eyeing Sister Assumpta. Their plan is to capture that cougar and release it into the school. They trash Assumpta?s office and will blame the cougar, explaining that Assumpta was the one who attracted it.
And few dollars spent, a homemade blow dart equipped with homemade tranquilizer and the plan is almost complete. They hit the target and it is out - asleep. But, of course something must go horribly wrong.
The four friends are completely shocked to find out there is more than ONE cougar in the exhibit. And after Tim goes in alone, instead of sticking to the original plan, he is jumped by the cougar and is killed.
Animated scenes from there comic help tell the story. They are in a battle, they were winning, then losing, then winning again, but fall short. They are rebels - not the whole leather jacket, black everything, hate the world rebels ? they rebel against their upbringing. And slowly, but very quickly learn the way they were brought up and intended to be would have saved their friend?s life.
Francis? loss inspired him to create a whole comic dedicated to Tim?s character, Skeleton Boy. If the book?s draft was completed then we would have known how it was supposed to end. However, the ending is more than sufficient.
Acting was great, most notably Culkin, he has the screen presence and really steals the scenes. Hirsch is as well believable.
MCT:July 29, 2008
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