The Basketball Diaries Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 2153

Average Rating: 2.8/4

# of Ratings: 168

Theatrical Release Date: 04/21/1995

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Biography

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Scott Kalvert

Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, James Madio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco, Patrick McGaw, Bruno Kirby

Plot: A group of teens growing up in streets of New York City get mixed up in drugs and their innocence is lost. Jim Carroll, DiCaprio, just wants to be a great writer but the drugs get a hold of him too.

Unknown - wrote on 09/20/2015

Strongly directed and acted independent film about the dangers of drugs. One could see this as a superficial 'anti-drug' statement, but it still remains grounded to some degree. A young DiCaprio gives a star-making performance, completely anchoring the whole film on his shoulders with absolute ease.

Matthew Brady - wrote on 03/02/2014

The film is about a group of teens growing up in streets of New York City get mixed up in drugs and their innocence is lost. Jim Carroll, DiCaprio, just wants to be a great writer but the drugs get a hold of him too. Leonardo DiCaprio acting in this film is so real you know what his character is going throw.

The SHC - wrote on 01/10/2009

One of my favouite movies of all time. I always liked Leonardo DiCaprio, and I always thought his early movies were some of his best. The movie is much less about about sports than it is about drugs. It really shows the side affects of drugs like heroin and cocaine very accurately, as well as the alutionations one gets. For instance, when Leo does heroin, he gets happy visions of him running through a valley of flowers, and when he does coke, he gets surreal visions of him shooting people. Also, Leonardo does a great job playing Jim Carroll. Hell he even looks just like him when he was younger. Mark Wahlberg is very good in it as well, though is definately overshadowed by DiCaprio's acting.Definately watch this, it is SO worth it.

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

The Basketball Diaries review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 09/07/2012

The film is not a sports flick, but based on an autobiographical book of the same name about Jim Carroll's (Leonardo DiCaprio) experience. Jim notes down the best friend he had who died of leukemia, his flawed coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby), teen rage and substance abuse. Editing, soundtrack and direction were solid. One will see the greatness of a young DiCaprio, who was really focse and believable in his performance. Lorraine Bracco was likewise dazzling in her role and Wahlberg electrifying. If only the basketball scenes were not too clownish and choreographed, added minute humor or at least some ice breaker to remove the tension of the seriousness, then it would have been a memorable film. Basketball Diaries is a wonderful film on drugs which lacks the charm of Trainspotting and …