Movie Review: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

Taken from a portion of Dito Montiel's memoir of the same name on his own coming of age, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" stars Robert Downey Jr. as Dito Montiel, a writer living in Los Angeles who receives a call from his mother (Dianne Wiest) urging him to come home and help take his sick father (Chazz Palminteri) to the hospital. After being gone for 15 years, the trip back and the visit home leaves Dito to reflect upon his past, growing up on the mean streets of Astoria with his friends (the saints of his past), and the events in the summer of 1986 that lead to his departure.

Taken back in time, young Dito (Shia LaBoeuf) and his crew of friends seem to find trouble at every corner. This crew consists of Antonio (Channing Tatum), a time bomb waiting to happen and Dito's best and most loyal friend; his belligerent and cloud-nine coasting brother Giuseppe; Nerf, the small but tough type (Peter Tambakis); Laurie (Melanie Diaz), Dito's childhood sweetheart who grows up to be actress Rosario Dawson; and a newbie Scot named Mike O'Shea (Martin Compston), whom Dito finds completely fascinating.

Rarely are there films that hit the movie theater that leave the audience in complete and utter silence—not because of some profound philosophical lesson on life, but simply because of emotion played out onscreen mirroring that same emotion we hide deep inside. "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" is that film. Dito Montiel's directorial debut is awe-inspiring. He does everything wrong as a director that helps you get it right in the end.

The performances by Robert Downey Jr., Shia LaBoeuf and Chazz Palminteri are grade-A, and Channing Tatum comes out of left field with an award-worthy performance. There is no doubt "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" is one for the ages; a rough, tough look at the world and what makes or breaks a man. If you hit the height requirement, do yourself a favor and see this film!