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A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

2006
Drama, Crime
1h 40m
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is writer/director Dito Montiel's candid debut capturing his youth in the mid-1980s in the toughest neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. Exuding the rawness and authenticity of such classic urban dramas as "Kids," "Mean Streets," "Do the Right Thing" and "Saturday Night Fever," the film is based on Montiel's memoir of the same name. (First Look Pictures)
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A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

2006
Drama, Crime
1h 40m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 52.8% from 581 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(581)
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Rated 13 Sep 2008
72
78th
Pleasant surprise. A very honest film that pulls off the conflicting urban cool with a sense of reality and sincerity. Didn't like RDJ, but hey, it's OK. Recommended.
Rated 21 Dec 2008
83
81st
In his filmmaking debut, Montiel draws many an excellent turn from a young cast of actors that I didn't think had performances of this calibre in them -- Tatum and LaBeouf in particular. He wrings his life story for every ounce of drama it's worth, and the film he creates is very worthwhile. Honest, moving, at times shockingly dramatic. There are moments that left me breathless. A very strong debut piece, and I'm excited to see Montiel work with material that isn't his own life.
Rated 14 Dec 2023
47
17th
If you've ever heard about somebody coming of age in a tough neighborhood you can count on your nose how many surprises this holds. Channing Tatum growing up to be Eric Roberts feels like a slight but I don't know to which one of them.
Rated 30 May 2007
6
35th
The only problem in this film was the miscast of Robert Downey Jr, which is too bad cause his one of my favorite actors out there, but other than that, the performances were top notch.
Rated 05 Jul 2007
83
72nd
I was mesmerized by this movie all the way to the seemingly abrupt ending. The use of handcams, flashbacks, and narrative provided a unique perspective on the lives of teens filled with turmoil.
Rated 26 Feb 2008
4
74th
I'm not sure why I hadn't heard immense praise for this movie; in fact I hadn't heard anything at all. It's really great. One of the most personal and intimate character studies I've ever seen. The flashback sequences are almost convincing as documentary, with all the handheld camerawork and quick cuts, and the narrative doesn't get tripped up on its frequent flashback/forward structure. This is the first time Shia LaBeouf has really impressed me as well.
Rated 02 Jun 2008
78
78th
I enjoyed this film... not too hard-hitting, but it gives insight into how things change and how we can never relive the past because it's never the same.
Rated 07 Jun 2008
70
78th
Better than I expected, but less Rosario Dawson than I was hoping for... I think Robert Downey Jr is overrated but I enjoyed his understated performance. Maybe he was totally doped up during this one.
Rated 15 Sep 2008
53
40th
Shia LaBeouf managed not to be too annoying despite being the main character, which is really impressive. Sadly, there's not really much going on here. I get the feeling that the book might be worth a read though.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
90
97th
this movie is like a locomotive, no, a locomotive painted by leonardo da vinci. it's strikingly beautiful from the time it begins, but as time passes it gains steam and becomes a powerful and wonderful thing. it has heartfelt drama, great acting, emotion, and the events to help it go where sheer dialog cannot. it has such wonderful characters that are complex with their good and their bad; it explores the grey areas where our minds sometimes can't decide what's right or wrong.
Rated 13 Dec 2008
80
78th
An underrated character study.
Rated 19 Dec 2008
90
96th
Favorite book, so I liked the movie.
Rated 13 Jun 2009
80
54th
I'm a sucker for Robert Downey so I'm biased. This wasn't bad. I haven't read the book but it was likely better. There isn't enough of Dito's character for me to really get a mancrush on.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
76
82nd
An autobiographical account from the writer/director, viewed from the past and the present.
Rated 28 Jul 2009
65
45th
There was a lot of good to this movie. The shame is that it could have been so much better. I bet it would have even been that much better if Dito Montiel trusted his story with a director with some experience. The way he put the story together could be confusing at times and might have been better if it was edited together by someone who didn't live the experiences. Regardless the movie is worth a watch and it makes me want to give the book a try as well.
Rated 13 Aug 2009
74
59th
Uses a really fascinating editing style. That and Channing Tatum are the high points.
Rated 04 Dec 2009
68
32nd
I really need to watch this movie again.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
71
31st
Omitted a lot of what I would've liked to have seen from growing up during that time. The scenes with Chazz P. are the whole draw.
Rated 03 Jan 2010
20
1st
boring as hell
Rated 22 Apr 2010
50
24th
meh
Rated 01 May 2010
1
9th
Got 10 minutes in and couldn't finish it.
Rated 07 Sep 2010
54
71st
#00s#, story, R DowneyJr.
Rated 31 Jan 2011
70
44th
This film is a powerful look at a chapter in a young man's life.The film does not shy away from the ugliness that is a part of so many young kids lives growing up in the inner city.The acting by all is very good.
Rated 02 Apr 2011
80
74th
Very good indepent American film. Told in an intelligent way, and acted very well. The film shows how profound the influence of a parent on the life of a kid can be.
Rated 11 Jul 2011
82
92nd
Nice Movie
Rated 15 Nov 2011
71
67th
Downey Jr. at his best, a surprisingly sharp LaBeouf and a decent story makes this movie good.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
80
49th
Had potential if it weren't for the casting of Beouf and Downey...
Rated 03 Jul 2012
77
38th
Strong acting in the end but a weak story in the beginning. I only really liked the last 30 minuts, all stuff that happened before that doesn't really move me.
Rated 27 Aug 2012
2
46th
Good visuals, realistically chaotic delivery. Some good performances (though RDJ was miscast), especially Anthony DeSando (Frank the dog walker). Story was pretty dull though and the kids were too antisocial and nasty to care about.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
70
61st
Like the boys, Montiel's first film is rough and uneven, with more energy than it knows what to do with. But it still manages to feel fresh and authentic, perhaps because it's so deeply autobiographical.
Rated 24 Mar 2013
67
50th
What the hell is Downey Jr. doing here; someone obviously couldn't let go of their "good idea" despite the contradiction of reality. Otherwise this is a strong film, if a little melodramatic. Decent performances all round (apart from the aforementioned) provide vitality for the oft harrowing plot.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
77
39th
a generally good film. the acting/dialogue was well done, and i liked the documentary-like visual style which made the film more real. I thought the film was really intense - to think that such things actually happen in the world is horrible. I felt like the movie didn't really resolve, but i guess that's real life ...
Rated 22 Jan 2014
61
16th
I was expecting some Saints to come marching in but instead there were just a bunch of street punks from NYC. This film has some highs and lows...
Rated 31 Dec 2016
75
33rd
expected a lot, from the title
Rated 01 Jun 2018
40
19th
ger; [Kids in den Straßen New Yorks]; auf new yorks strassen kämpfen kinder gegeneinander und gegen die härte ihres viertels.;
Rated 13 Oct 2018
80
77th
rvw
Rated 01 Mar 2020
82
44th
more like era depiction piece.
Rated 29 Jun 2020
75
59th
I sort of love when casting directors don't even try to find similar looking actors to play older/younger versions of the same character. This film has really good energy and despite feeling rough around the edges, contains some of the best work of Shia/Tatum's careers.

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