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A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)

R  |   |  Crime, Drama  |  13 October 2006 (USA)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 21,537 users   Metascore: 67/100
Reviews: 86 user | 111 critic | 25 from Metacritic.com

The movie is a coming-of-age drama about a boy growing up in Astoria, N.Y., 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.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Diane (as Julia Garro)
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Young Nerf (as Peter Tambakis)
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Anthony Tirado ...
Erick Rosado ...
Steve Payne ...
Beach Chair Guy (as Steven Payne)
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Storyline

Dito, a writer in L.A., goes home to Astoria, Queens, after a 15-year absence when his mother calls to say his father's ill. In a series of flashbacks we see the young Dito, his parents, his four closest friends, and his girl Laurie, as each tries to navigate family, race, loyalty, sex, coming of age, violence, and wanting out. A ball falls onto the subway tracks at a station, small things get out of hand. Can Dito go home again? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Queens, New York, 1986. Sometimes the only way forward, is back. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, sexuality, and drug use | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

Language:

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Release Date:

13 October 2006 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Tus santos y tus demonios  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$94,784 (USA) (29 September 2006)

Gross:

$516,139 (USA) (17 November 2006)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Dito (Shia LaBeouf) and Mike (Martin Compston) are talking about what music they should play, Mike says that they should sound like Black Flag or Major Conflict. Major Conflict is a NY hardcore band in which the director of the movie actually played when he was young. See more »

Goofs

Boom mic shadow in the 26th min on the lower right hand side of the screen, in the scene were the father beats Antionio. See more »

Quotes

Young Dito: My name is Dito... and I'm gonna leave everybody in this film.
See more »

Crazy Credits

A small scene is shown in the end credits while "New York Groove" is playing. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #6.45 (2012) See more »

Soundtracks

Trouble
Written by Cat Stevens (as Yusuf Islam)
Performed by Cat Stevens
Courtesy of Island Records Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
See more »

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User Reviews

 
One of my favs of the year
27 October 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

First time director Dito Montiel's "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints" is a harsh autobiographical look back at his youth on the mean streets of Astoria, Queens in the mid 1980's. From the film's opening moments, Montiel introduces us to an intimate world of family and friendship that totally blindsided me by its greatness. There are moments in "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints" that roll along with such force and emotion, that Montiel feels like a natural born filmmaker, infusing his personal heartache into strong characters breathing within a vivid time and place. Montiel's handling of edits, sound, and music are also powerful, such as a scene in Dito's kitchen between his father and group of friends that explodes into stark images and quick cuts to black. Montiel also handles the return home of Downey Jr. with care and vulnerability, searching for small answers that come in revelatory conversations with his mother (Dianne Weist) and grown up girlfriend Dianne (played by Rosario Dawson). And while such personal material can be hard to translate without lapsing into melancholy, Montiel finds a way to craft a clear eyed version of his life, allowing strong acting and electric film-making to take over the balance of the experience. I love finding unheralded gems such as this. The name of Robert Downey Jr. brought me to the theater and I discovered a true talent in Dito Montiel who has crafted one of the finest directing debuts in several years


41 of 51 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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God DAMN. banditaxis06
Best Performance In This Film fallinep
A 1986 movie placed in the 1970's was distracting? esboat1
WOW has everyone lost their mind?!?!?! capitalgreen99
I grew up in astoria and know about these guys!!!!! gravy31104
What was 'so moving' about this film? nazogrande

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