Recognize Your Saints, In Steel

Something about a steelbook DVD makes the product irresistible. Unfortunately, just wrapping media in metal doesn’t make it quality entertainment. The steelbook encasing the film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints might actually reflect the movie within it. You can see for yourself when First Look Studios releases the special limited edition steelbook on February 3rd.

Based on a memoir written by director and writer Dito Montiel, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints tells of when he returns to his hometown of Astoria, New York after his father becomes seriously ill. The film jumps between the present, during which the role of Dito is played by Robert Downey Jr. and the summer of 1986 where the role is played by Shia LaBeouf. The film also focuses on Dito’s family, childhood sweetheart, and friends, who all must manage a range of issues including drugs, domestic abuse and gang violence. Even though Dito accomplishes his goal of escaping his past and becoming a successful writer, he realizes the only way he can move forward in life is to go back and confront what he left behind.

The first element that caught my attention about this film was not the recognition it received at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, but the great cast. No wonder it took home the award for Best Ensemble. Being that the film’s lead actors would be representing himself, Montiel must have put a significant amount of thought into casting both LaBeouf and Downey Jr.. With Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminiteri, Dianne Wiest and Channing Tatum rounding out the group, this film has to be a sure thing.

A great cast like this not only means a good film, but good bonus material as well. This DVD comes with a making of featurette, rehearsal scene, deleted scenes, alternate trailer, alternate opening, alternate endings and commentary with the director. Most of the time, I never even considering watching commentary, but being that the film is about its director, makes think he’ll have things to say beyond what you might hear from a director whose role is restricted to just that. I’m hoping and expecting my $14.98 will be well spent.