The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Ernie Hudson, Mark Wahlberg, James Madio ... (see more) , Patrick McGaw , Bruno Kirby , Juliette Lewis
Film adaptation of street tough Jim Carroll's epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction. As a member of a seemingly unbeatable high school basketball squad, Jim's life centers around the basketball court and the court becomes a metaphor for the world in his... (read more) Film adaptation of street tough Jim Carroll's epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction. As a member of a seemingly unbeatable high school basketball squad, Jim's life centers around the basketball court and the court becomes a metaphor for the world in his mind. A best friend who is dying of leukemia, a coach ("Swifty") who takes unacceptable liberties with the boys on his team, teenage sexual angst, and an unhealthy appetite for heroin -- all of these begin to encroach on young Jim's dream of becoming a basketball star. Soon, the dark streets of New York become a refuge from his mother's mounting concern for her son. He can't go home and his only escape from the reality of the streets is heroin for which he steals, robs and prostitutes himself. Only with the help of Reggie, an older neighborhood friend with whom Jim "picked up a game" now and then, is he able to begin the long journey back to sanity.
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R, 120 min.
Directed by:
Scott Kalvert
Release Date: Apr 21, 1995
DVD Release Date: Jun 30, 1998
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Flixster User Reviews
Anybody who thinks their child is using drugs or is interested in using them should make them watch this movie. It is one of the hardest movies to sit through, but well worth it!
Good, even if 75% of the movie is just one long lowest-point Act 3 break. The bad times threaten to undermine the whole picture via mild monotony, but what would this movie be if not miserable? And kudos that the voiceover isn't too obnoxious - not a... (read more) Good, even if 75% of the movie is just one long lowest-point Act 3 break. The bad times threaten to undermine the whole picture via mild monotony, but what would this movie be if not miserable? And kudos that the voiceover isn't too obnoxious - not a small feat.
It's of the same genre as requiem for a dream..the only reason i prefer this is beacuse of the happy ending
I thought the scenes of pain and torture following inability to access drugs were a little too extended. They could have used that screentime to establish Jim's relationship with his mother and his bond with his friend Bobby (as his death was also a ... (read more) I thought the scenes of pain and torture following inability to access drugs were a little too extended. They could have used that screentime to establish Jim's relationship with his mother and his bond with his friend Bobby (as his death was also a critical reason for Jim's fall into the world of drugs). Having said that DiCaprio does exceedingly well, Marky Mark is tailor-made for the role, and the rest of the cast also delivers. Julliette Lewis was a complete waste though, just to show the turn-of-the-tables later on.
This was the best acting I've seen from Leonardo, he may be the next great one as he matures more. The movie was based on a true story, I liked it a lot. 3 1/2 stars
By far still one of the best DiCaprio movies that i ever been, forget Titanic this tale of a mans fall and rise over smack addiction on the streets of NY is a true story... must watch
its the heart touching movie i ever seen....great perfomances by dicaprio...at the time he was so young but he truely deserve the roll.
i first saw this movie when i was too young to digest it.
i rewatched it recently and i was simply blown away.
this is on the very short list of movies about drug addiction that i can actually watch.
et dire qu il y en a qui s arretaient au cliche di caprio c est titanic lol
un film sous cote
intepretation geniale
Critic Reviews
You leave The Basketball Diaries believing that Leonardo DiCaprio can do anything.full review
Will there ever be a market for a movie about a character who hurries past his drug phase because he can't wait to tell you what he did after he pulled his act together? Probably not.full review
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