The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Marco Beltrami
" Beltrami scores something non horror based "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Sometimes I find it interesting to look at movies which star actors that recently made an impression on me. For instance, it's funny to look back at Chris Pine once he wasn't known as Captain Kirk. I do the same with composers by the way. And once Marco Beltrami made himself memorable with horror films, I thought it was important to look back when he wasn't that widely known. It's that reason that led me to The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Starring a remarkable cast of actors (Emile Hirsch, Kieran Culkin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jena Malone and Jodie Foster), it passed most peoples attention when it aired in 2002. I saw it however, because I wanted Marco Beltrami to surprise me with a non horror effort. And so he did, partially.
First off The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys is a soundtrack that's represented by Marco Beltrami's music and by additional music from Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Joshua Homme. When we look at Marco Beltrami's score, we can only say it is another mixed bag of styles. Considering the kids use their drawing as a means to address their anger, the music becomes a part between their struggles in the real world and their heroic actions in the comic book drawings. "The Couch" is a perfect example of that style. It opens with a more personal piano tone before growing slightly heroic once they let their imaginations go wild.
"The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils" and "The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils, Round II" delivers more sinister music, at least giving you some sense that Marco Beltrami can still crop up some horror music from time to time. Besides that Beltrami dares to paint a more emotional picture in the string dominated "Margie's Confession", dares to show how quirky "St. Agatha" can sound like and how lovely a cello solo can make "Dead Dog, Part II" interesting. And "Skeleton Boy is Born" made an impression on me in the film once it showed that animation actually grew through a brief choral sound. The same happens in "Someone is Coming"
Joshua Homme's contribution mostly focuses on the guitar parts. He creates a never to be heard again theme for the Atomic Trinity in the opening track "The Atomic Trinity", and let's his guitar speak most of the time in "Francis and Margie" and "Stoned". He also performs the enjoyable rock song "All the Same". "Eulogy" which introduces again the lovely sound of the cello closes the score material before that.
During a pack of horror efforts in 2002, Marco Beltrami received the chance to deliver something different. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys was at the time important, because it showed a different voice of Marco Beltrami. And back then it was a big deal. Now it sounds like we always knew he had it in him. For the best possible effect, see how it blends seamlessly between the animation and the live action, something it does easily enough on disc as well.
Tracklisting
1. The Atomic Trinity * (1.31)
2. The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils (1.31)
3. The Empty House (1.30)
4. The Couch (2.10)
5. Hanging (aka Ramble Off) * (2.02)
6. Margie's Confession (2.54)
7. The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils, Round II (1.59)
8. St. Agatha (3.23)
9. On the Road Again: Canned Heat (3.22)
10. Francis and Margie * (0.54)
11. Stoned * (1.35)
12. Dead Dog, Part II (2.04)
13. Skeleton Boy is Born (0.56)
14. Do For the Others: Stephen Stills (2.51)
15. Story of the Fish (2.00)
16. For the Gods / Act Like Cougars (2.02)
17. Torn Apart (1.09)
18. Someone is Coming (2.48)
19. Eulogy (1.25)
20. All the Same: Joshua Homme (4.45)
* music by Joshua Homme
Total Length: 43.40
First off The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys is a soundtrack that's represented by Marco Beltrami's music and by additional music from Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Joshua Homme. When we look at Marco Beltrami's score, we can only say it is another mixed bag of styles. Considering the kids use their drawing as a means to address their anger, the music becomes a part between their struggles in the real world and their heroic actions in the comic book drawings. "The Couch" is a perfect example of that style. It opens with a more personal piano tone before growing slightly heroic once they let their imaginations go wild.
"The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils" and "The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils, Round II" delivers more sinister music, at least giving you some sense that Marco Beltrami can still crop up some horror music from time to time. Besides that Beltrami dares to paint a more emotional picture in the string dominated "Margie's Confession", dares to show how quirky "St. Agatha" can sound like and how lovely a cello solo can make "Dead Dog, Part II" interesting. And "Skeleton Boy is Born" made an impression on me in the film once it showed that animation actually grew through a brief choral sound. The same happens in "Someone is Coming"
Joshua Homme's contribution mostly focuses on the guitar parts. He creates a never to be heard again theme for the Atomic Trinity in the opening track "The Atomic Trinity", and let's his guitar speak most of the time in "Francis and Margie" and "Stoned". He also performs the enjoyable rock song "All the Same". "Eulogy" which introduces again the lovely sound of the cello closes the score material before that.
During a pack of horror efforts in 2002, Marco Beltrami received the chance to deliver something different. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys was at the time important, because it showed a different voice of Marco Beltrami. And back then it was a big deal. Now it sounds like we always knew he had it in him. For the best possible effect, see how it blends seamlessly between the animation and the live action, something it does easily enough on disc as well.
Tracklisting
1. The Atomic Trinity * (1.31)
2. The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils (1.31)
3. The Empty House (1.30)
4. The Couch (2.10)
5. Hanging (aka Ramble Off) * (2.02)
6. Margie's Confession (2.54)
7. The Atomic Trinity vs. Heaven's Devils, Round II (1.59)
8. St. Agatha (3.23)
9. On the Road Again: Canned Heat (3.22)
10. Francis and Margie * (0.54)
11. Stoned * (1.35)
12. Dead Dog, Part II (2.04)
13. Skeleton Boy is Born (0.56)
14. Do For the Others: Stephen Stills (2.51)
15. Story of the Fish (2.00)
16. For the Gods / Act Like Cougars (2.02)
17. Torn Apart (1.09)
18. Someone is Coming (2.48)
19. Eulogy (1.25)
20. All the Same: Joshua Homme (4.45)
* music by Joshua Homme
Total Length: 43.40