The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

A group of Catholic school friends, after being caught drawing an obscene comic book, plan a heist that will outdo their previous prank and make them local legends.

Director:

Peter Care

Writers:

Chris Fuhrman (book), Jeff Stockwell (screenplay),

Stars:

Emile Hirsch, Kieran Culkin, Vincent D'Onofrio

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emile Hirsch	...	Francis Doyle
Kieran Culkin	...	Tim Sullivan
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Father Casey
Jena Malone	...	Margie Flynn
Jake Richardson	...	Wade Scalisi
Tyler Long	...	Joey Anderson
Jodie Foster	...	Sister Assumpta
Arthur Bridgers	...	Donny Flynn (as Arthur Bridges)
Scott Simpson	...	Newsie
Melissa McBride	...	Mrs. Doyle
Michael Harding	...	Mr. Doyle (as Mike Harding)
Chandler McIntyre	...	Naturalist
Jeffrey West	...	Professor Sullivan
Yvonne Erickson	...	Mrs. Sullivan
Nicky Olson	...	Colin Gibbney

Storyline

In mid-1970s Savannah, two bright but rebellious boys, Francis Doyle and Tim Sullivan, fight boredom, hormones and harsh teachers as they struggle to find something meaningful beyond the walls of their parish school. Francis, an exceptional artist whose imaginative forays into a fictional universe of good and evil fill his notebooks with comic-book imagery, creates a netherworld of superhero alter egos for the two boys. When the ultra-strict Sister Assumpta seizes their artwork one day, the boys embark upon an obsessed trail of revenge that ultimately changes their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | comic book | book | friend | catholic | 

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Taglines:

Trouble is Their Only Defense Against Boredom

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and youth substance use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 2002 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Innocent Boys

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$55,000 (USA) (14 June 2002)

Gross:

$1,779,284 (USA) (8 November 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Egg Pictures, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Trilogy Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The final shot in the scene where the boys find an injured dog was actually just footage shot of the actors "resetting" after a blown take. It was kept in since it so clearly shows their fatigue and frustration.

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Goofs

When Tim and Francis are walking with the dog, a truck can be seen behind them in one shot but not in the next. It subsequently passes right by them.

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Quotes

Francis Doyle: When you look at me, I can hardly breathe.

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Connections

Featured in Anatomy of a Scene: The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys

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Soundtracks

"Stoned"
Performed by Joshua Homme (as Josh Homme)

User Reviews

Evocative and funny...

Group of Catholic schoolboys in the mid-1970s are obsessed with comic books, girls, and wreaking havoc on their most hated teacher, Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster, in a nun's habit, somewhat uneasily cast but still quite good). A surprisingly rich, rewarding film about adolescence puts other, more popular films in this genre to shame. The scruffy, nostalgic era is captured nicely, and the young players really shine. Spiked with wonderful animated sequences, the film failed to catch on with its target audience yet is otherwise intelligently crafted and often very moving. Foster also served as co-producer. *** from ****