A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
by Dito Montiel
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dianne Wiest, Melonie Diaz, Robert Downey Jr., Rosario Dawson, Shia LaBeoufDirector: Dito Montiel
Writer: Dito Montiel
Producer: Alex Francis
Producer: Amanda Mackey Johnson
Producer: Bobby Sager
Producer: Charlie Corwin
Producer: Clara Markowicz
Producer: Jonathan Elias
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Original Language); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-02-20
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: First Look Pictures
Movie Reviews of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
Movie Review: A Guide to Recognizing True Talent
Summary: 4 Stars
The only complaint I have with this film is that it's too short. The ending came so abruptly I was not ready to leave these characters behind. Thanks to brilliant acting I had become totally invested in them and left to wonder whatever happened to them. The film tells the story of Dito Montiel an author turned filmmaker. It traces his violent childhood in Queens to his self imposed exile in California and finally his return home after fifteen years to tend to his ill father who never forgave him for leaving. Shia LeBeouf plays Dito as a teen and Robert Downey Jr. plays the grown up Dito. I'm not a fan of LeBeouf but his acting here is amazing. I haven't seen many of his films but I would say it's his greatest performance if there is such a thing. Dito lives with his mother (Dianne Wiest) and father Monty (Chazz Palminteri). He roams the streets with his friend Antonio (the brilliant Channing Tatum) and other characters with names like Nerf. Antonio is a hothead who is always getting into fights and vandalizing stuff. His home life is no picnic since his father beats him severely. Monty is the only person who takes an interest in him, more so than his own son. Laurie (the gorgeous Melonie Diaz) is the neighborhood girl who Dito has a crush on. Tiring of the violence and drugs that surround him Dito dreams of running off to California and starting a band with a Scottish classmate. This doesn't bode well with his friends or family. When he runs afoul of some Puerto Ricans and they beat him with bats his mind is made up. In the tragic aftermath his father suffers a severe heart attack, Antonio gets revenge on the Puerto Ricans that lands some in the hospital and others in jail, and Laurie remains in Queens and has a child while waiting for Dito to return. Dito comes home after fifteen years to take his father to the hospital but his father, like everyone else, has never forgiven him for abandoning them. The film is very raw in many ways. The behavior of Dito's friends is appalling full of sex, violence, and strong language. They aren't a likable bunch but they aren't supposed to be. What makes the film so raw and painful are the scenes between Dito and Antonio or Dito and his father. Both as child and adult the emotion is there. As mentioned LeBeouf is brilliant and Palminteri is reliably superb. The biggest revelation is Tatum. After appearing in crap like 'She's The Man' and 'Step Up' he shows a real talent and his performance is the film's highlight. (I can't wait to see his re teaming with Montiel in the film 'Fighting'.) As an adult Eric Roberts plays Antonio and even though the scene is very short and comes right at the end it's still devastating. Rosario Dawson plays the adult Laurie and she is quite raw in her limited scenes with Downey. Downey isn't in the film as much as LeBeouf but his performance is very effective. His confrontation with his father is gut wrenching. The film is great and thankfully the DVD has a lot of good extras including a making of and commentary in which Montiel elaborates on what wasn't in the movie. I love it.
Summary of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
A coming-of-age drama about a boy growing up in astoria ny during the 1980s. As his friends end up dead on drugs or in prison he comes to believe he has been saved from their fate by various so-called saints. Studio: First Look Home Entertain Release Date: 09/04/2007 Starring: Robert Downey Jr Chazz Palminteri Run time: 98 minutes Rating: RA film adaptation of Dito Montiel's memoir of the same name, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is a compelling, thoughtful movie based on Montiel's childhood growing up in 1980s Queens. A writer and director who understands his limitations, Montiel wisely left the acting to the pros. Shia LaBeouf (Holes) plays him during his adolescence, while Robert Downey Jr. (Good Night, and Good Luck, Wonder Boys) portrays the grown-up Dito. Never mind that there is absolutely no physical resemblance between the two actors; LaBeouf and Downey are so convincing in their roles it doesn't matter. Switching effortlessly from present day (where Dito is a successful author) to the past (where he is a tough little kid trying to figure out if there is life beyond New York), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints tackles Dito's complicated relationship with his parents (Chazz Palminteri and Dianne Wiest), as well as the friends he left behind. Eric Roberts is magnificent in a small role as one of Dito's tough, childhood buddies. His powerful performance makes viewers remember there was a time when Roberts was better known for his acting skills than for being Julia's big brother. Montiel--a first-time filmmaker--won the Director's Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for his autobiographical movie. Raw, gritty, and honest, Saints) makes a strong impact and leaves the viewer curious as to how the rest of Montiel's life will work out. --Jae-Ha Kim
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