I'm a longtime fan of independent films, and "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" certainly ranks among my favorite. From the opening sequence, you get an in-depth look at the lives of the two primary characters, altar boys Tim Sullivan and Francis Doyle, (played by Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch, respectively),and their cutting down of the telephone pole early on perfectly introduced them to the audience, as well as really setting the tone for the movie as a whole. Some have said this film doesn't really delve that far into their characters, and I'm not sure I can agree with that. It certainly doesn't have one of those Hollywood "characters come clean and reveal all their deep dark secrets" sequences in it, but it deals well in subtlety, and gives more genuine hints as to what their lives are like. The scene in which Tim's parents were arguing accomplished what it needed to accomplish, and without overdramatizing it at that; putting less attention on it makes their arguing seem like more of an everyday occurrence, and that is substantial. Furthermore, the scene in which Tim and Francis find the wounded and dying dog on the side of the road certainly establishes a bit of Tim's character, at least to my mind.
The animation sequences, for my money, were perfectly done, and fit in very nicely with the live action sequences, and really help the film in the long run. Most importantly, they convey what the boys, especially Francis in particular, are feeling inside, and that again, is substantial. In my opinion, it is an excellent film, and it is a very well-done film. But, again, that is my opinion and only that. The DVD is most certainly excellent, with loads of special features, including deleted scenes, a featurette, interviews, and a lot more. In my estimation, this film is outstanding, and should not be missed.
The animation sequences, for my money, were perfectly done, and fit in very nicely with the live action sequences, and really help the film in the long run. Most importantly, they convey what the boys, especially Francis in particular, are feeling inside, and that again, is substantial. In my opinion, it is an excellent film, and it is a very well-done film. But, again, that is my opinion and only that. The DVD is most certainly excellent, with loads of special features, including deleted scenes, a featurette, interviews, and a lot more. In my estimation, this film is outstanding, and should not be missed.