Rating: R
Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 06/14/2002(USA
Release Date: 11/05/2002
SubTitles: Espanol
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD5.1/DD2
Run Time: 105 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drugs), Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen, Youth Substance Use
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys brings
Chris Fuhrman's well-received, posthumously published teen novel to the screen. Set in the 1970s, the film concerns two rebellious Catholic schoolboys -- bashful, pensive
Francis (
Emile Hirsch) and whip-smart, impulsive
Tim (
Kieran Culkin) -- who spend their free time pulling elaborate pranks and creating a comic book featuring themselves and their friends,
Wade (
Jake Richardson) and
Joey (
Tyler Long), as superheroes. Their alter egos are brought to life in animated sequences by
Spawn creator
Todd McFarlane. Their grim, strict, one-legged teacher,
Sister Assumpta (
Jodie Foster), is drawn as a motorcycle-riding supervillain.
Vincent D'Onofrio plays the more easygoing
Father Casey. Egged on by
Tim,
Francis admits that he has a crush on
Margie Flynn (
Jena Malone).
Tim encourages
Francis to pursue
Margie, at one point even sending her a mash note and signing his friend's name.
Francis and
Margie eventually begin seeing each other. But when
Margie reveals a terrible, painful secret to
Francis, it sets off a chain of events that leads to tragedy.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys marks the feature debut of director
Peter Care. It was screened at several festivals, including
the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. The film sparked a small controversy at
the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where it was rejected, allegedly in retaliation for producer
Foster's decision to forego heading up the fest's jury in order to replace
Nicole Kidman in
Panic Room.
~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
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