The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

Rating:
Summary: Imaginative blend of live action and animation
Review: "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," directed by Peter Care, tells the story of a quartet of Catholic school boys who are engaged in a protracted war against their stern teacher, Sister Assumpta (played by Jodie Foster, who also has a producing credit on the film). One of the boys, Francis (Emile Hirsch) is the primary creator of the boys' alter egos, a group of comic book superheroes. These outcast mutant heroes are brought to life in a series of energetic animated sequences that effectively parallel the main story.

The film features solid performances by an excellent cast. Hirsch holds the film together in what is effectively the lead role. As Francis' best friend, Kieran Culkin brings depth to what could have been a stereotypical prankster role. Vincent D'Onofrio gives a nicely understated performance as a nicotine-craving, soccer coaching priest.

Jodie Foster has some good moments, but I found her pivotal character to be disappointingly underdeveloped; this lack of insight into Assumpta hurts the symmetry of the film.

"Dangerous Lives" is an effective mix of humor and adolescent angst, with some really tender and moving moments. Unfortunately, I found the boys' main prank of the film to be just too moronic and unbelievable, and the film seems to lose cohesion towards the end. Still, I can't help but love a film in which the poetry and artwork of William Blake is a key motif.

Rating:
Summary: A Unique Combination of Cartoon and Teenage Drama
Review: Co-produced by Jodie Foster's company Egg Production (Jodie also appears here as a supporting player), "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" is a good example of her keen-eyed judgement to choose the good material with right cast. She must be proud of the result of her effort, and she should be.

The film, based on an autobiographical novel by late Chris Fuhrman, follows the life of two boys attending a Catholic high school, Francis (feature debut Emile Hirsch) and Tim (Kieran Culkin). Francis is good at writing a comic book, in which he expresses his inner world full of teenage angst and anger, raised by and targeted at, the rather harsh and rigid rules set by the supervising nun Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster). So, she becomes, in his comic world, villainous "Nun-zilla" the destroyer of the town, and he and his friends "Atomic Trinnity." But when Francis comes to know his girlfriend's secret (played by Jena Malone), Francis's world starts to crumble, showing its uglier sides to those teenage boys.

The content itself is probably deemed familiar -- we have seen many films dealing with teenage-angst -- but most unique part of the film is it uses the cartoon scenes to show the innermost place of Francis's tormented heart. The cartoon sequences -- done by none other than Todd McFarlane of "Spawn" fame -- are delivered intentionally in an old-fashioned style, corresponding with the boy's journey through the troubled teenage days, giving power to the whole work.

But truely remarkable things about the film is the actors -- Emile Hirsch as the lead in particular is incredibly good, always convincing and successful in exuding the feelings of "the dangerous lives" of the teenagers. Also of note is Kieran Culkin, always cool and cynical, but I was really surprised to find Jena Malone, expressing the strong and fragile side of a girl with a terrible secret. Jodie Forster perhaps found out her talent when Jena Malone played Jodie's characater in childhood in "Contact."

As for Jodie herself, she plays a relatively negative role (a rare thing for her), but still good at that, and even retains a humane side in her character. And though briefly, Jodie rides a bike wearing a nun's costume (!), which reminds me of an old film starring Debbie Reynolds (if you remember "The Singing Nun" and "Donimique, niqu ..." song). The film is director Peter Care's first feature, and his previous works are music videoes (Bruce Springsteen and others) or commercials, but he knows how to tell a good story with very plausible portraits of teens. And the subdued photograhy of Lance Acord ("Buffallo 66" and "Being John Malkovich") is another asset.

Rating:
Summary: Charming, but unexpected
Review: This was an interesting flick that tells the tale of growing up in a catholic school. It uses an interesting method of storytelling, as it interweaves cartooning and live action drama to tell the story of two boys growing up, causing mischief, and just being boys.

The animation is done by McFarlane Studios, who, if you don't know, produces/produced the cartoon series Spawn. Personally, I didn't really appreciate the animation scenes as much as I could have because I almost felt they took away from the drama of the movie, but the QUALITY of the animation was still top notch.

The story was interesting, at the very least, humorous at times, tense at times, and even sad at times. It's a good film to watch, but I don't know if I'd recommend it to everyone to buy. The acting is great in this one, with standout performances by Jodie Foster and Vincent D'Onoforio (sp).

As I said, I don't think I'd recommend this film to EVERYONE to buy, but I enjoyed it and it was well worth the $8 I paid for it, though I wouldn't give it "rave" reviews either.

Rating:
Summary: 'Alter'ed States
Review: Right off the bat, I'll admit this movie has potential... it just seems to blur out from time to time with stupid plot twists and one dimensional characters. Whenever the film grabs you, it takes a turn in the wrong direction. (Namely, the cougar incident. Which was ridiculous from the moment they started scheming and plotting.) I liked Kieran Culkin's character... it's just too bad we don't really learn anything about him...

All in all, it was fair, seeing as how I didn't expect much walking into it. Script was kind of interesting... direction was nothing new or impressive, but still passable... cast was capable. Characters were just abysmally under-developed and, at times, extremely hokey and unbelievable.

And cheezy lines like, "When you look at me... I can't breathe..." don't work here either. What kind of teenage boy would say that to a girl? Honestly. Not saying because he makes misogynistic comics all day long that he himself is a raging misogynist... but, seriously... who the hell says that kind of 5h!+? It's things like that that really shatter the flow of the film.

Rating:
Summary: Passafist Reviews The Dangerous Life of Alter Boys
Review: It's always nice when a film tells a good story. Even if it's full of flaws. I smiled a lot during the early moments of THE DANGEROUS LIFE OF ALTER BOYS. I reminisced about by own childhood. I felt deep sympathy when the characters wanted to cry. Oh yeah and Jenna Malone has proved she can play more layered roles. This is a great movie.

Set in small town America; in a time before video game saturation and before the Internet was a gleam in Al Gore's mind. Boys and girls did what they could to elevate boredom. They played outside. Emile Hirsch (The Emperor's Club) plays Francis Doyle, an alter boy with that typical teenage angst. Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down) plays his best friend Tim Sullivan, he's the brain in the friendship, at least he's the guy who comes up with all the crazy schemes. There are two other friends Wade (Jake Richardson, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) and Joey (Tyler Long, Forrest Gump). Together these 4 boys create a comic book world into which they can escape.

Jenna Malone (Stepmon) plays Margie Flynn, the innocent girl with the dark secret. Francis longs to date her, and she's going to let him. Let the coming of age movie begin.

Francis and his friends have one problem Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster, Panic Room). She's their teacher and probably the meanest nun to ever be on film. She cuts them no slack, humiliates them during class prayer. She's the perfect villain, for small town kids with out many real problems.

THE DANGEROUS LIFE OF ALTER BOYS strikes the right cords at the right moment. This film hits me like THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, it's not the same story, but Francis is just as strong a central character. I have a feeling that the real Sister Assupmta, isn't half as mean as Francis think she is.

Kieran Culkin's performance hits the right tones too. He's the mischief-maker and the ringleader, and you know why? He's charismatic and funny at the right moments. If I was that age I would have thought the cougar idea was a good one too. Would I have followed them to the cage? Hmm...I don't know!

Jenna Malone, one word--WOW! The camera loves her, and her performance is so sweet. I think I hung out with girls just like Margie when I was in high school. She steals small moments in this film, and you just want to give her a big hug near the end.

Did I mention the animation? The film has some of the most inventive comic book style animation I've ever seen. It's a nice device to move the story forward; any lesser movie would probably wallow in trashy voice-over. Thankfully this film does not.

If you're looking for a film, that's sweet but not sweet enough to give you a cavity. If you're looking for a film with just the right beats, even with some faults. THE DANGEROUS LIFE OF ALTERBOYS just might be your penance.

Rating:
Summary: uneven, well acted film
Review: "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" is NOT, as you might expect, a film about predatory priests, but rather a slice-of-life tale about four malcontent Catholic schoolboys who spend most of their free time devising preposterously elaborate and life-threatening practical jokes to play on the faculty members of their school.

As a coming-of-age drama, the film is fairly conventional in its plotting - i.e. young boys, in their rebellion against the uncomprehending adult world, experiment with drugs, first love, sex and general rule breaking - although there is a tricky and touchy incest-related subplot that is handled with a certain amount of delicacy and sensitivity. The highlight of the movie is the outstanding performances delivered by youngsters Emile Hirsch, Kieran Culkin and Jena Malone, whom you might remember as the young Jodie Foster in "Contact." In fact, Foster herself appears in this film (in addition to co-producing it) as the uptight nun, Sister Assumpta. Unfortunately, her character is probably the least well developed one in the film, a fact that seems more obvious than it otherwise might if an actress of Foster's caliber were not playing the part.

The film also displays a nice feeling for its early-70's setting and does a good job capturing the way young people actually speak and communicate (the cast members have their nonverbal expressions and gestures down beautifully as well). Working from the novel by Chris Fuhrman, screenwriters Jeff Stockwell and Michael Petroni, along with director Peter Care, interrupt the live action at regular intervals to provide animated sequences that are ostensibly derived from the anarchic superhero comic book on which the gifted boys are collaborating. We know that these sequences are intended to provide a kind of fantasy alternate universe for these troubled kids who seem to find no meaning in the restricted world of religion and rules in which they find themselves, but the fact is that these sections of the film, not very creative in themselves, merely serve to thrust us out of the story at crucial moments.

"The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" is an odd and somewhat misleading title for this film, since most of the "danger" these boys face is, primarily, a product of their own stupidity and not of their religious upbringing. Indeed, the religious figures in the film are mainly cranky and/or ineffectual, not really dangerous. "The Dangerous Live of Altar Boys" is an uneven film, but the superb performances by its youthful cast members make it ultimately worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: I liked this movie. I'm not saying it's brilliant or life-changing or even a contender for My Favorite Movie, but I liked it.

It's worth a rental.

Rating:
Summary: 'Altar'ed States
Review: Yeah, I'll admit this movie has potential... it just seems to blur out from time to time with stupid plot twists and one dimensional characters. Whenever the film grabs you, it takes a turn in the wrong direction. (Namely, the cougar incident. Which was ridiculous from the moment they started scheming and plotting.) I liked Kieran Culkin's character... it's just too bad we don't really learn anything about him...

All in all, it was fair, seeing as how I didn't expect much walking into it. Script was kind of interesting... direction was nothing new or impressive, but still passable... cast was capable. Characters were just abysmally under-developed and, at times, extremely hokey and unbelievable. And cheezy, hokey dialogue doesn't help matters, either. "When you look at me, I can't breathe."

One more thing... I kinda dug the marriage of animation and live-action in this film. It just seemed to work well enough here.

Rating:
Summary: From charming to moving
Review: I don't think I'll do the film justice, but here goes:

The young cast in this film is very talented and give great effort in bringing their characters to life. They do an especially good job depicting the obstacles of adolescence. The experimenting with drugs and alcohol, friendship and trust, love and sex for the first times in their lives, were protrayed very realistically. Sometimes the dispositions of the characters seemed off beat, but it was an exaggeration needed to impress the gravity of the scene. Kieran Culkin as Tim is passionate in his love of language and words if tragically flawed. The animated intermissions serve as a look into Emile Hirsch's / Francis' head, translating what happens around him into something he can relate to and digest through his imagination and love of comics. Jena Malone has a great performance as Margie and is vaguely reminiscent of Kirsten Dunst in The Virgin Suicides for some reason. As a coming of age movie though, this one is MUCH better. Malone also reminded me of a young Natalie Portman in Beautiful Girls. She has a 'thing' about her, a hint that says she's destined for greatness. What a talent. Jodie Foster is Jodie Foster. She and Vincent D'Onofiro do a great job, but the adults in the movie serve mostly as placeholders.

If you are a fan of bang up performances in coming of ages movies, this one has the potential to replace your current favorite. This movie resonated with me personally because in a offhanded way that WAS me and my friends. We had the same love of comics and disregard for authority. We dreamed big and played hard, but we were always able to keep our grand schemes in check. It did a good job of putting me back in that place, in that time.

Rating:
Summary: believeible
Review: This is the best coming-of-age movie i have seen. The acting and plot are great. It reminded be about my teenage years. This was definantly a great movie