ThiefHott Too much of everything

VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

azurastones I was 15 when I first saw this film and I think that I watched it at the perfect time in my life, I was able to relate to a lot of the emotions the characters were feeling at this turbulent time in a teenagers life. Leonardo Dicaprio's acting in this is some of his best and he captures brilliantly the painful descent into drug addiction.There is lots of swearing and violence is also common place: two groups of boys get into a fight, the main character has a dream in which he strides into school with a shotgun and shoots his classmate and teacher, an old woman is mugged and then attacked by two main characters, a character is threatened violently by a bigger man, a man falls off a roof and onto a car below (he dies).Drug use is, obviously, also common: characters smoke cigarettes and weed, they snort cocaine, take a wide variety of pills and inject themselves with heroine (the actual injection isn't shown on screen but we see the tourniquet, the needle, the drug, and the scars on a characters arm).Sex is also present: there is a scene with a scantily clad stripper, two characters kiss passionately, there is a sex scene off screen and we see the two characters half-dressed in bed afterwards. Prostitution is another theme with many people often offering the main character money for sex, including a male teacher. There is only one scene where prostitution actually takes place however it is harrowing, nothing is explicit but we see money exchanging hands before the older gentlemen gets on his knees and the main character unzips his trousers.Ultimately this film is a warning and so nothing is held back (including a disturbing scene in which a character goes through excruciating withdrawal), its the kind of film that when its over it stays with you. It's become one of my firm favourites.

Screen_Blitz In this biopic based on true events, Leonardo Dicaprio stars in his first leading role as Jim Carroll, a high school teen in Manhattan who plays on the basketball team along with his friends Mickey (played by Mark Wahlberg), Neutron (played by Patrick McGaw), and Pedro (played by James Madio). The four begin sprawling the streets of downtown Manhattan, experimenting with illegal drugs and prostitution. Soon, they begin experimenting with heroin, which unexpectedly grows into an addiction. Before too long, their lives begin descending into a downward spiral when their addiction takes a toll on their high school career as well as their home lives.Many anti-drug movies such as Trainspotting (1996) and Requiem For a Dream (2000), succeed on painting realistic pictures on how drug addiction damages people's lives as well as deliver clear messages on why you shouldn't do drugs. This one does manage to give an authentic look on drug addiction with the main character. When you watch as he and his friends steadily transcend into a life of heroin addiction, they get involved with crime including robbery, theft, assault, and eventually homicide. They also end up getting kicked off the basketball team, expelled from school, and even exiled from the comfort of their homes. The movie does do a decent job at highlighting the perplexities that their drug addiction leads to. The main problem however is that the story pays very little emotional investment, and it makes the plot less effective than it should be, not to say that it fails to deliver its message. Aside from this, as the story approaches its final act, the film goes into some rather strange directions. For instance, one of the characters leaves the group not wanting to grow further into the heroin addiction. From there on out, we never learn what happens to him or what. Then there are some drug-charged hallucination scenes like the infamous school shooting scene and a scene showing Leonardo Dicaprio's character get shot while shooting a basketball that made almost no sense.Overall, Basketball Diaries is not too bad for a film. Even though it may not be as effective or believable as other drug-themed movies, it still manages to be somewhat powerful and deliver its message. The cast also deliver some good performances, especially Mark Wahlberg.

bviktor98 I'm a huge fan of DiCaprio, so I watched this movie with great expectations. It was slightly disappointing.This is a propaganda film, not from the better kind. As my summary said, it was more like Mr. Mackeys speech against drugs from South Park. The main character plays in a basketball team, wanting to be a professional, but as he starts to take drugs, he loses his career, his friends, even his family. That kinda sums it up.I'm a 16 year old teenager, and it's clear that this movie targets my age group by its message. The book was much better in my opinion, because that had an impact on me(I read it after the movie). It has a moralist, preachy message, which is very weak. It didn't make me feel disgusted by drugs. I think Requiem for a Dream is a much, much better film to show teenagers what the consequences of taking drugs are. However, it wasn't very bad. There was one scene, which captures the books atmosphere quite good. The acting was solid, especially DiCaprio, who's as good as always, and the soundtrack is also alright.

dan wade I watched this film recently with my girlfriend and several friends having not seen it since around the time when it first came out. I remember at the time thinking how powerful a performance Leonardo Dicaprio gave of Jim Carrol's real life character. The performance was so good I remember at the time telling friends who had recently seen Titanic, that they will be shocked by this performance as it proved he is one of the most versatile actors in cinema today and then. Over the years I have told people I have met, you need to see this movie but not many have and it seems to have sneaked under the radar a little. Therefore when It was on television recently I made everyone watch this film. Everyone who did came back to me saying the same thing, 'wasn't leo good in it'!! The scenes involving Carrol begging his mother to let him into the apartment so he can ask for money to help feed his drug habit are shockingly powerful.Its an amazing portrayal of the dangers of drug addiction and how it can effect young people who dabble with the dangers so quickly, turning their lives on its head with out them realising how it even happened. some strong messages in this film that many teenagers need to watch.Having watched it again some years later, It has dated slightly in time but not only Leo is outstanding but Mark Whalberg shows that he too was showing potential back then 15 years ago or so. I have never been too sure of Whalberg in the past sometimes mixing natural acting ability in movies such as 'the fighter' or his interesting performance of the character police detective 'dignam' in the departed with shocking performances such as 'the happening or Planet of the Apes (where to be honest I don't blame him but the directors for poor casting). But Wharlberg in this movie shows genuine class, perhaps portraying a young man who had an adolecence pretty similar to his diaries character 'mickey'.on a whole the film is a class act and hidden gem. A must see.