The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

Synopsis

Catholic high-schoolers Francis (Hirsch), Tim (Culkin), and their friends are adolescents who see the world as a clear and simple place. In their limited experience, the universe is comprised of heroes and villains and it is always possible to tell the difference between the two. Sister Assumpta (Foster), the nun who has become the emblematic authority figure in their lives, is the enemy. Seeing only her rules and daily efforts to subert their fun instead of the genuine concern she has for their souls, the boys use their artistic talents to create a hard-edged comic book that depicts Sister Assumpta as a fiendish, motorcycle-riding villain who battles their animated alter-egos. Throughout the story, their fantasy universe comes to life in animated sequences, paralleling the live-action tale of friendship, first-love, and inevitable loss.

Based on the novel by Chris Fuhrman.

Cast

Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, Emile Hirsch, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jodie Foster