MovieChat Forums > A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) Discussion > God DAMN.

God DAMN.

posted 15 years ago by banditaxis06
24 replies | jump to latest

This movie was *beep* beautiful. God damn beautiful. Everything. Just the rawness of New York, and the drama between the characters.

Maybe I'm biased. I met people in college who live in Brooklyn, and i've stayed there many times. Watching this movie is pretty accurate to life there.

God it was just such a blast. The WHOLE movie was an emotional roller coaster ride. I wish this movie never ended.

I am so *beep* floored right now. If there were one movie i wish i could emulate, it would be this. Everything was just so perfect.

If anyone else shares this opinion and knows any other movies similarly set in Brooklyn/Queens, with character drama like this, please let me know.

I don't know if the movie Kids is set in New York or not, but isn't that supposed to be a pretty raw look at teenage city-life as well? Does anyone recommend that?

[–] vincebruno11 15 years ago

i highly recommend 'Kids'. it was filmed in Manhattan. it's very raw (it was rated NC-17 when it was released) but it's a classic. another good one is 'Mean streets' by Martin Scorsese.

p.s. Rosario Dawson also stars in 'Kids'.

http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/blog/uploaded_images/peep14_013-71549 6.jpg

[–] gumborific 15 years ago

Here is a wiki list of NYC films:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_set_in_New_York_City

Some obvious choices are Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale.
Ten Benny is not NY it is Jersey but a real good feel for a similar kind of culture as this film.

It's fun to see these films and recognize the places you have been to.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] Flowbeer 15 years ago

Just watched this lastnight on IFC....great film. There are some others that I have seen on IFC & Sundance in the past, and I will try to think of some more....but what comes to mind now would be 'All Over Me', has a very NYC/80's feel to it, punk rock, drugs, lesbianism, etc. - again, VERY "indie"! lol ;) I also saw Ten Benny!
There are some other ones I saw on IFC but they are not as "gritty" as Guide/Saints, but still worth checking out:
Love, Ludlow
(brainfart...I'll be back when I think of more!)

"Grab yaself uh eggroll!" - Drexel Spivey

[–] gumborific 15 years ago

Because of your little quote there I just watched this scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uQFm-Lfcqo
NICE!!!

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] Flowbeer 15 years ago

Wow, did you search for Drexel Spivey on youtube to find that? Yea, I luv that scene! Classic Tarantino dialogue!

"Now, I know I'm pretty. But I ain't as pretty as a coupla titties!" -

"Grab yaself uh eggroll!" - Drexel Spivey

[–] gumborific 15 years ago

Oh yeah, just search the character name on youtube and the scenes come up.

"In our wings that bark, flashing teeth of brass, standing tall in the dark" - David Bowie

[–] koolaidb 15 years ago

i'd recommend a movie called hurricane streets. somewhat similar to this movie, but i actually prefer hurricane streets slightly more. it's hard to find but certainly worth it

[–] tdashdub 15 years ago

The Wackness with Josh Peck and Ben Kingsley

LOVE this movie

Has NYC in its 90's perfectly

[–] captaintass 15 years ago

I thought this movie kind of sucked. Being as I'm not from New York I just found the whole thing to be depressing.

[–] AlexanderSupertramp 15 years ago

i liked this film too. this is the only good movie that shia has ever been in.

[–] greatwareagle 14 years ago

LAWS OF GRAVITY directed by Nick Gomez is the Brooklyn version of this movie. LAWS has widely been compared to MEAN STREETS.

[–] kulot929 14 years ago

Hey I agree. The rawness, coming-of-age story. Loved the conflicts between the characters: father/son, friend/friend, boy/girl, and inner conflicts. LeBeouf really acted this role well, considering he is really more well known for the Transformers films. He showed a lot of emotion that many young actors of his age don't have. Maybe he can use that in Transformers?!? Okay, wishful thinking.

[–] emo_ville2002 14 years ago

This film does not represent Astoria in any era, let alone the 1980s.

From a synopsis I'd read about this film, it stated this movie was about a young teen growing up in a very violent neighborhood. Astoria, very violent?! Astoria was never, and is not now, considered a violent or rough neighborhood.

Anyone not from New York, would think Astoria was similar to the South Bronx during that areas very rough times. Astoria was never rough or dangerous. There weren't a ton of abandoned buildings or gangs roaming the streets.

This film is simply about a bunch of kids who happened to be from from Astoria, kids who had somewhat rough working class lives. Their lives are not a reflection of this neighborhood. There are many success stories from Astoria, singer Tony Bennett is one of them.

I think the writer tried to give Astoria a tough rough 'n' tumble image, it simply didn't have and doesn't have.

[–] sydbarrett90 14 years ago

The writer (Dito) actually didn't try to embellish Astoria at all. If you'd paid attention, you would remember that all of the violent conflicts stemmed from a confrontation they had with a group of people who lived in Queensbridge. Queensbridge has always been a rough area, and it isn't too farfetched to think that the violence there could occasionally travel into Astoria. What the movie was really about was a bunch of idiots who brought trouble upon themselves, and the one who was smart enough to escape it, and the one who was never given a chance. Hence the whole "recognizing" your saints thing.

Then someone falls in love, and someone's beaten up, and the senses being dulled are mine

[–] emo_ville2002 14 years ago

Isn't it quite ironic that the Silvercup Studios building, where many hit TV shows have been filmed, such as "30 Rock", is right across the street from Queensbridge Houses?! Gentrification is now going on everywhere in NY!

I still stand by my original post, this movie was promoted as a bunch of kids growing up in a rough area of Queens, which Astoria was named as said 'rough area'. The movie was promoted as being about some tough working class guys coming of age in Astoria.

You could also clearly see the majority of the scenes took place in Astoria, even if the people from Queensbridge made their way to Astoria....the violence, even the family confrontations, mainly took place in Astoria.

I recall when this movie was being filmed, all the local Astoria and Long Island City neighborhood papers were so excited that a film was being made about their neighborhood, little did they know how negative the depiction of the area would be.

[–] johnny_amok 13 years ago

The Basketball Diaries (Jim Carroll) with Leo Di Capri and Mark Wahlberg is a lot like "A Guide to....". and also set in NY.

[–] elchicho25 13 years ago

I felt the Same way.. Larry Clark's movies are like this...

[–] mbrudolph 12 years ago

This movie speaks truth on so many levels.. I just hope that the more "privileged" kids and adults can see what other people go through... Everyday.