Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
A 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
Product Description
Coming-of -age drama set in 1980s New York. Returning home to see his sick father (Chazz Palmintieri), Dito (Robert Downey Jr.), reminisces about his youth in the NY borough of Queens. As the action centres on events in his childhood, we follow a younger Dito on the verge of making a tough choice between staying in the gang-ridden streets and the bosom of his family, or breaking free into a wider world, full of possibilities.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By J. Evelegh
Format:DVD
an excellent film, chronicoling the tough lives of a group of teenagers living in the hard times of 80s Queens, New York. The movie is gritty and tough, the artistic style adding to this particular flavour of the film itself. definitely one i would recommend espescially if you enjoyed Kids, Kidulthood and A Bronx Tale.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When released this film received mix reviews so I didn't see it at the cinema - a decision I now regret. I thought the DVD was fantastic.
It isn't an easy film to watch having been cut up and spliced together in intricate ways but as a whole I thought it worked extremely well. The editing and direction is innovative and fresh, leading to a dreaminess that is rarely successful in this genre.
I recommend that people give this film a shot.
It isn't an easy film to watch having been cut up and spliced together in intricate ways but as a whole I thought it worked extremely well. The editing and direction is innovative and fresh, leading to a dreaminess that is rarely successful in this genre.
I recommend that people give this film a shot.
Format:DVD
One of my favourite films from a few years ago - watched it again last night and just had to post a review up. It's searing Scorcese-inspired cinema. Shia LaBeouf shows exactly why at that moment in time he was the most-exciting young actor in Hollywood, Robert Downey-Jr is inspired as his adult version. Brilliant and brutal.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 56 reviews
3.8 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Great
I bought this film purely because Channing Tatum is in it, film was a waste of an hour and a half of my life!! Gave 3 stars only because i got to see a topless Channing Tatum :)
Published 19 months ago by Zoey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant film
Had I read reviews on this film I never would have bought it, however I am so glad that I caught it on tv first and just had to own it to watch again at leisure. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jaq
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brutal
I'm quite surprised at some of the reviews here, how can a true story been seen as cliched and contrived? Maybe the reviewers missed that it is a true story. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dignitas
2.0 out of 5 stars
Just plain awful.period.
this film is about nobody and the boring life he lives, why does these type of films keep getting made. Read more
Published on 20 April 2011 by ekb
2.0 out of 5 stars
Clichéd, contrived and unoriginal
As if there haven't been enough 'coming of age' dramas set in New York, we are presented with yet another. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2010 by Joe Langton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wow
Gritty, artistic, hard hitting, honest- This was a truly memorable movie. It's dramatic, action packed and real.
It's based on a book and you can tell. Read more
It's based on a book and you can tell. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2010 by Amy Connolly
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull, contrived and messy.
A Guide To Recognising Your Saints is Dito Montiel's autobiographical coming of age drama based in Queens, New York. Read more
Published on 17 July 2010 by Ernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazingly different
This film isn't the same as most. Most say if you're from "the hood", violent area's there is a loyality to die there early and except it. Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by Mr. James G. Bradford
5.0 out of 5 stars
blistering debut
As 36-year old dito (Robert Downey jnr) looks back at his childhood with laurie (Rosario Dawson) we are whisked off to the sweltering New York summer of 1986. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by Ric 1912
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much Better Than I Thought...
This film is bit like the oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire as it has flashbacks while he is traveling to his mother and father. Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by Mr. J. Richards
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
