Although the film, like most films that deal with drug issues, has a preachy sincerity and a focus on the woes of drug use it makes for effective, compelling viewing.
Comment
03/24/08
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
38 %
Reviews Counted: 34 Fresh: 13 Rotten:21 Average Rating: 4.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Synopsis: Based on the autobiographical journals of poet Jim Carroll, BASKETBALL DIARIES follows the descent of a Catholic high school student from star basketball player to drug addict. Jim (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his friends roam the streets of New York City as goof-offs, petty thieves, and... [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby, Juliette Lewis
Reviews
Top Critic
The angel-faced DiCaprio is a gifted actor, but he lacks the authority and physical presence to keep us with him.
01/26/06
Top Critic
Not exactly upbeat watching but the charm of an early DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg makes this worthwhile viewing.
01/01/00
Top Critic
For those few soul-freezing moments, you get a glimpse of the great actor Leonardo DiCaprio is going to be.
03/24/08
If the idea of watching Leonardo DiCaprio pout for 90 minutes gives you sweaty palms, by all means go.
03/24/08
Top Critic
Significantly, the movie keeps the hero's reformation offscreen as well as unexplained; it's more interested in shock effects than in candor or elucidation.
03/24/08
You never understand what really motivated this intelligent adolescent, a gifted basketball player and sensitive writer, to descend into the hellish life of a drug addict and hustler on the mean streets of New York.
06/15/05
Top Critic
Crushingly over-emoted and internally inconsistent; for Leo die-hards only, and how many of those are around anymore?
04/20/04
Top Critic
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