Shifting between the rough streets of 1986 Astoria, Queens, and present day, we follow the real-life story of Dito Montiel reconciling with the friends and family he left behind when he followed his dreams to California. The 1986 section is exciting. The cast is fantastic. Shia LaBeouf's ease is kind of amazing. And Channing Tatum, who I'd only known from the previews for Step Up, was surprisingly good. And Martin Compston as Mike O'Shea deserves a nod too. Hell, they're all good, except for Chazz Palminteri, whose dramatic line readings lead me to believe he thinks he's in a play instead of a movie. And "Chazz," who allows themself to be called "Chazz?" Maybe a toe-walker, ranked second on the high school tennis team, prone to double faults and tantrums, while Dad screams at the line judge. But a grown man? Sorry, I digress. It's an old grudge.The present day section, though, is a letdown. It's poorly cast (except for Eric Roberts, in a brief, unnerving appearance). Robert Downey just doesn't feel like the man Shia's Dito would have become. And like this paragraph, it's just not as well developed as the first half. And then there's Chazz again.
"Chazz." Pfft.
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