Coming-of-age drama about a boy growing up in Astoria, New York during the 1980s. As his friends end up dead, on drugs or in prison, he comes to believe he has been saved from their fates by... Read allComing-of-age drama about a boy growing up in Astoria, New York during the 1980s. As his friends end up dead, on drugs or in prison, he comes to believe he has been saved from their fates by various so-called saints.Coming-of-age drama about a boy growing up in Astoria, New York during the 1980s. As his friends end up dead, on drugs or in prison, he comes to believe he has been saved from their fates by various so-called saints.
- Awards
- 8 wins & 9 nominations
Laila Liliana Garro
- Diane
- (as Julia Garro)
Peter Anthony Tambakis
- Young Nerf
- (as Peter Tambakis)
Anthony Tirado
- Street Corner Puerto Rican
- (credit only)
Steve Payne
- Beach Chair Guy
- (as Steven Payne)
Steven Randazzo
- Token Clerk
- (as Stephen Randazzo)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWriter and director 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 the requisite amount of anger to the role.
- GoofsIn the 1980s scenes on the subway, scanning the rooftops, you can see many cellphone towers.
- Crazy creditsAt the very end of the credits, after the logo graveyard, there is a short bit with the real Monty.
- SoundtracksNative New Yorker
Written by Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer (as Sally Linzer)
Performed by Odyssey
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Featured review
One of my favs of the year
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. I love finding unheralded gems such as this. The name of Robert Downey Jr. brought me to the theater and I discovered a true talent in Dito Montiel who has crafted one of the finest directing debuts in several years
helpful•469
- Henryhill51
- Oct 26, 2006
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Tus santos y tus demonios
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $517,809
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $94,784
- Oct 1, 2006
- Gross worldwide
- $2,035,468
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) officially released in India in English?
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