IMDb > A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
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A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) More at IMDbPro »

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A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) -- 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.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) -- 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.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   9,655 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 111% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Dito Montiel
Writers:
Dito Montiel (book)
Dito Montiel (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 October 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
Queens, New York, 1986. Sometimes the only way forward, is back. more
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
6 wins & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
Raw, Gritty, and Stunning. more (74 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Dianne Wiest ... Flori

Robert Downey Jr. ... Dito

Shia LaBeouf ... Young Dito

Melonie Diaz ... Young Laurie
Julia Garro ... Diane
Eleonore Hendricks ... Jenny

Adam Scarimbolo ... Guiseppe
Peter Anthony Tambakis ... Young Nerf (as Peter Tambakis)

Channing Tatum ... Young Antonio
Anthony Tirado ... Street Corner Puerto Rican (credit only)
Erick Rosado ... Puerto Rican Van Driver
Steve Payne ... Beach Chair Guy (as Steven Payne)

Chazz Palminteri ... Monty
Tibor Feldman ... Teacher
Martin Compston ... Mike O'Shea
more
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for pervasive language, some violence, sexuality, and drug use.
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dito Montiel was reluctant to cast Shia LaBeouf in the role of young Dito because Montiel was intent on casting an unknown. After the first rejection, however, LaBeouf pushed for one more audition. He came into the casting office, punched a hole in the wall, and convinced Montiel that he could bring a requisite amount of anger to the role. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In one shot of the subway, American flags are visible next to the subway windows. These were added after the attacks of 9/11, years after the movie takes place. more
Quotes:
Young Laurie: I'm Laurie... and everyone is going to leave me. I know they are. more
Movie Connections:
References Asteroids (1979) (VG) more
Soundtrack:
Native New Yorker more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
27 out of 33 people found the following comment useful.
Raw, Gritty, and Stunning., 8 January 2007
9/10
Author: surferchicky92 from United States

I was lucky enough to catch the last showing of "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" at my local theater, and man, was I surprised. I haven't seen a film with such an accurate and heart wrenching portraits of troubled youths since "Kids".

"A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" gives us a glimpse into the life of Dito Montiel (Shia Labouf, with Robert Downey Jr. as the older version) growing up on the streets of Astoria, Queens in 1986. When he leaves for California, he leaves behind his best friend and resident tough guy Antonio (Channing Tatum, with Eric Roberts playing the older version), his caring mother (Diane Wiest) and tough love father (Chazz Palminteri), his girlfriend Laurie (Melonie Diaz, with Rosario Dawson as the older version), and pretty much everyone else he knew.

First time director Dito Montiel does a stellar job of establishing characters and their relationships. He also does a great job directing scenes that seem so real (thnks to some superb acting by the cast), it almost seems like a documentary. A huge round of applause goes to the cast for their performances.

The ending wasn't really cohesive with the script. I didn't leave knowing what happened with Dito and his family and friends. Other than that, there's not a single bad moment.

"A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" is raw, gritty, and stunning. There's not a single disappointing scene in the movie.

9.5/10

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Best Performance In This Film fallinep
worth watching? kmarie88
Weak Scottish Accent. ThunderBlade5723
A 1986 movie placed in the 1970's was distracting? esboat1
WOW has everyone lost their mind?!?!?! capitalgreen99
Laurie and Dito -- Why didn't he take her to CA? diane-258
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