How Robert Downey Jr. Changed Dito Montiel’s Filmmaking Journey Forever!

by

In Dito Montiel’s latest production, you’ll find an impressive ensemble of actors such as Jennifer Coolidge, Bill Murray, Gabrielle Union, and Pete Davidson. It’s quite remarkable when you consider this film was created by a former New York punk rocker who, before venturing into directing, had a brief stint as a Versace model. Known for his debut work, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, which was based on his personal memoir, Montiel is now returning with a gritty crime thriller titled Riff Raff. This film required an exceptionally talented leading actress to bring its darkly humorous narrative to life.

Prior to assembling the cast of Riff Raff, Montiel recognized that an exceptional actor, unique in his own right, was essential for a pivotal part. According to Montiel’s interview with MovieWeb, this search began with a straightforward query.

Who exactly is Elizabeth Taylor in today’s world? I recently watched the series ‘White Lotus’, which is as sophisticated as it gets for me, and I found myself wondering, Who is this woman? She’s absolutely remarkable… I was the last to know who Jennifer Coolidge was, but her performance on that show left me speechless. It was like seeing a ghost. That’s Virginia Woolf. So we were incredibly fortunate.

A movie that combines suspenseful thrills with a touch of humor, “Riff Raff” tells the story of retired assassin Vincent (Ed Harris). His peaceful life is disrupted when his ex-wife (Coolidge), along with their son, goes into hiding. To complicate matters further, his old criminal companions (Bill Murray and Pete Davidson) are pursuing them, creating a chaotic situation for Vincent.

For Montiel, it’s a delight to team up with such an abundance of talent because he gets to observe their process and serve as what he refers to as a gauge for truth. Upon his arrival in Hollywood, Montiel brought along a captivating tale enriched by a one-of-a-kind script lesson from the young Robert Downey Jr.

Dito Montiel’s Unlikely Career Rise Was Aided by Robert Downey Jr.

Dito Montiel, without a doubt, chose an unusual route in his career. In 2006, he made a striking debut with the crime drama “A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints“, which was influenced by Montiel’s personal experiences and adapted from his self-penned memoir published in 2002. Robert Downey Jr. portrays a fictionalized character representing Montiel, while Shia LaBeouf plays the younger version of the director. As Montiel notes, this film revolves around his life growing up in ’80s New York, as his companions mysteriously start passing away one by one.

I penned “[A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints]” because I was in a tough spot with no resources and nowhere to live. It’s an unusual tale, but under the circumstances, I wrote this unconventional book by hand. Remarkably, a former colleague of mine from Tower Records in New York was a publisher, and if just 10 people bought it, I would have been astonished. Incredibly, one of those people turned out to be Robert Downey Jr., who had read it. And what seemed like an absurd notion at the time, both of us dared to consider, ‘Could this possibly become a film?’

Montiel discovered a fellow traveler in Downey Jr., eventually receiving his initial, authentic screenwriting guidance from him.

Initially, when I saw EXT, I assumed it meant exit. I would have written ‘exit this street.’ However, one day Robert clarified that it stands for ‘exterior.’ This was my introduction to the art of scriptwriting.

Riff Raff releases February 28, 2025.

Read More

2025-03-01 01:02