Those preferring their coming-of-age tales to be bathed in the rose-tinted glow of nostalgia should think twice before approaching writer-director Dito Montiel's adaptation of his own memoir. Stand By Me this is not.

It covers two periods in the life of a fictional Dito. As an adult, Dito (Downey Jr) is an author living in L.A. He makes an apprehensive return to New York after his mum Flori (Wiest) calls to say that dad Monty (Palminteri) is sick.

The bulk of the film, however, concerns the teenage Dito (astutely played by Shia Leboeuf) kicking around his tough Astoria neighbourhood with a tearaway crowd during the long, hot summer of '86.

Dito's a good kid; his friends, not so much. Although Monty loves Antonio (Channing Tatum) – perhaps more than his own son - the guy could start a fight in an empty room. And his brother Guiseppe is a few bad pennies shy of a dollar.

They girls they hang out - and make out - with aren't much better, though Dito has the best of the bunch in Laurie (Melonie Diaz).

Free-thinking Scottish newcomer Mike (Martin Compston) also proves to be a steadying influence on Dito, landing them both a job walking dogs for a local hustler.

But as a turf conflict over graffiti escalates into violence and tragedy, Dito's urge to get out of Queens becomes more powerful than his father's will.

The adult Dito's homecoming thus becomes a time of reflection as both Laurie (grown up to be Rosario Dawson) and his estranged dad tell him exactly what they think about his decision to abandon his roots.

Naturalistically shot and blessed with an exemplary ensemble cast, Montiel's debut is a resolutely unsentimental trip down memory lane.

Acting aside, the film’s greatest strength is that the outcome of any given scene is never certain. The problem is that as this draws us in, Montiel’s overly serious and self-conscious style creates distance.

He could be the next Larry Clark or the next Spike Lee. But with a dash more humour and fewer directorial tics, Montiel could have what it takes do the right thing.

Elliott Noble