A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
DVD9 | VIDEO_TS | NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Cover + DVD Scan | 01:39:39 | 7,77 Gb
Audio: English AC3 5.1 @ 320 Kbps + Commentary track | Subs: English, Spanish
Genre: Crime, Drama | 7 wins | USA
DVD9 | VIDEO_TS | NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | Cover + DVD Scan | 01:39:39 | 7,77 Gb
Audio: English AC3 5.1 @ 320 Kbps + Commentary track | Subs: English, Spanish
Genre: Crime, Drama | 7 wins | USA
A successful writer living in LA, Dito is summoned home to Astoria after a 15-year absence by his mother when his father becomes seriously ill. His father never forgave Dito for leaving home and thus the two have a very strained relationship. Memories of his youth come flooding back as Dito revisits his old neighborhood.
IMDB
When I first heard that Dito Montiel would be directing the film version of his auto-biography, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, I thought "Who the heck is Dito Montiel?" I then began to ponder the resulting motion picture. It had the potential to wind up a pretentious mess. How many worthwhile auto-biographical flicks have you seen? Many of my doubts for the project were quietened when I read the list of performers involved; Robert Downey Jr., Chazz Palminterim Shia LeBeouf and Rosario Dawson. At that point, it became something I knew I wanted to see. The multiple Sundance Film Festival awards didn't hurt either.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
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Now a grown man and a success elsewhere, Dito Montiel (Robert Downey Jr.) returns home to Queens to visit his sick father (Chazz Palminteri) and several childhood friends. The catch is that Dito hasn't been home or spoken to anyone in fifteen years. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints takes a hard look at why Dito left his friends and family, why he returned and how they receive him once he returns. It's equal parts coming-of-age and going-back-home.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
![A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)]()
I found myself captivated by Montiel's use of the dual-story format. As an audience, we're always left trying to figure out how the past could possibly unfold to result in the present and at the same time, we're left wondering how the present is going to conclude itself. This is a prime example of just how unconventional a film Saints is. Another enjoyable moment of unconventionality involved the entire cast of youngsters turning to the camera mid-film and individually telling the audience something deeply revealing about themselves. I'm convinced several of the characters confessed things that they, in the story, weren't even aware of themselves. It's an odd moment.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
![A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)]()
Shia LaBeouf and Robert Downey Jr. play Montiel at different ages in his life and do so amazingly well. Their performances are similar enough that through even the slightest mannerisms, you can tell they're both the same person. It's a testament to great acting. The entire cast works hard to sell the material and give it a wholly organic feel. There are no polished exchanges here, the lines aren't witty or even well-phrased. The performers often mumble them out and unnecessarily repeat themselves to give the film a realistic and unscripted edge. It's no wonder as to why the picture took home the 'Best Ensemble' Sundance Award in 2006.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
![A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)]()
The entire production is all the more impressive when you consider that this is Dito Montiel's first writing and directing experience. He has a strong grip on the film he's crafting and employs an array of unusual techniques to tell the story. For instance, he continually blurs the line between spoken dialogue and spoken inner-monologue just as he continually distorts the audience's perception of a scene by blackening out the video or audio as he sees fit. Both of these devices work well to heighten the film's dramatic impact.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
![A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)]()
In the end, I have only good things to say about Saints. The film has a magnificent story and I'm now interested in reading the autobiography that inspired it. First-time director Dito Montiel brings a remarkably original vision to the screen through a slew of irregular methods and his cast is first-rate. If you're in the mood for a gripping true-story drama, I whole-heartedly and readily recommend this film to you.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Special Features:
- Commentary with Director Dito Montiel and Editor Jake Pushinsky
- Shooting Saints: The making of "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints"
- Alternate openings/Alternate endings
- Deleted Scenes
- Rooftop scene
- Saints trailers
- Full Monty interview
- Young Laurie audition played by Diana Carcamo
- Previews
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Many Thanks to Original uploader.
No More Mirrors.