A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006)
Wednesday, 25 Apr, 2007 06:12:55 PM
Extra Details: IMDB
›› We reviewed the Region 01 DVD
Movie Mad Review:
I almost forgot to review this movie I saw the other week.
I had been hoping for a movie quite similar to The Warriors/Wanderers. This movie was reaping praise from everywhere and I sat down expecting class!
The story is about Dito, a writer in L.A., who 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.
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.
As mentioned above this is a great first attempt at film-making especially an autobiography!
But the story plods along at a very dull pace! the acting is first class, as is the producing and directing, as are the shots of New York!
But this movie never really gripped me like other famous classics. Yes the story is good, but 50 minutes pass before anything really happens.
The subway scene hits home, but it isn't worth the wait and is a shame for such great performances!
One time watcher, but don't believe the hype!
Worth Watching ?
Maybe! Your not missing out if you miss this movie! Over hyped badly!
DVD Features
Director Commentary
Previews
Worth Owning on DVD ?
No, this movie is ok but too slow to ever watch again!
Our Rating:
3 out of 5.
