The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 1st, 2002
THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS
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'Did He who made the lamb make thee?' William Blake, "The Tiger"
Four Catholic School friends, Francis (Emile Hirsch), Tim (Kieran Culkin, "The Mighty"), Wade (Jake Richardson, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back") and Joey (Tyler Long, "The Patriot") escape the perceived tyranny of Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster) and the varying troubles of their teen lives via their transformation into 'The Atomic Trinity,' a pulp superhero comic drawn by three and edited by the fourth. A best friendship is tested when Emile begins to spend time with Margie (Jena Malone, "Donnie Darko"), an unusual girl with a shameful secret, and Tim, the son of warring, alcoholic parents, continues to escalate "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys."
Based on Chris Fuhrman's cult novel, "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" succeeds on many levels, but is undermined by a climax that cheats. The film does offer further proof that Kieran Culkin and Jena Malone are fine young actors while serving as a calling card for newcomer Hirsch.
Although no regional accents are employed, the film is set in the small town South of the 1970s where afternoons are idled away riding bikes and clandestinely drinking liquor stolen from dad's cabinet. Tim is established as the groups's bad influence in the film's initial scene, where Tim and Francis do their triangulation homework by cutting down a telephone pole. Tim's proudest moment is the successful theft of the St. Agatha statue that rests high above the school's entry, but when he begins to lose Francis to Margie his bids for attention get louder. A field trip to a zoo gives Tim an obsession - capturing its cougar to frighten his teacher.
Video director Peter Care artfully interweaves the animated (by "Spawn's" Todd McFarlane) adventures of The Atomic Trinity vs. Nunzilla, which symbolically mirror reality, with the painful coming of age story, but neither he nor screenwriter Jeff Stockwell can fix a climax which is both cliched and preposterous. The film isn't shallow, but nor is it deep enough for the weight of its incest, abuse and alcoholism subjects as reflected through the poetry of William Blake. Individual scenes work better than the impression of the whole. There's a sense of watching the story unfold with peripheral vision.
Emile Hirsch is the 'cute boy' initially too shy to approach the woman of his dreams. He's the follower to Tim's lead, the artist to his friend's conductor. His confused feelings over Margie's revelation are acted with compassionate skill. Jena Malone creeps under your skin as the young girl who's fresh exterior houses churning self hatred. Her talent shows a maturity far beyond her years as she balances her neediness with her need for an independent appearance.
Kieran Culkin is immensely touching as the forgotten child crying out for attention. His reaction to finding a dying dog by the side of the road, which he clearly empathizes with, has strong emotional impact. He puts just the right spin on the devilish facade which hides a tormented soul.
While Jodie Foster is miscast and adopts an Irish brogue only to abandon it, she gets to the emotional truth of a nun who's viewed as a monster, but cares deeply for her charges. The air between her and Culkin is positively charged when she passionately reminds him that God sees all and she fears for his soul. Her seriousness is offset by Vincent D'Onofrio's ("The Cell") delightful turn as Father Casey, the bearded, chain-smoking, largely clueless priest who just barely manages to hid his amusement at the boys' hi jinx and his discomfort in answering their questions. He's the type of priest one recalls with affection.
"The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" has flaws, but it also has humor and heart and very talented young actors.
B
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