User reviews

Saw this movie when it first came out and thought it was quite good, although I didn't really relate that much too it.

Now I've tried to watch it 25 yrs later, and having to go through the experiences in this film with my own son, I could not sit through it.

It's sad that youths will not see this movie til it's too late. My son is gone over two years now and still effected by his loss everyday.

An uncompromising script and a solid performance from Leonardo Di Caprio help make THE BASKETBALL DIARIES a powerful and memorable film experience. Leo plays Jim Carroll, a high school student with a love of basketball and a flare for writing whose life goes right down the toilet when he becomes a heroine addict. Yes, perhaps Leo gets hooked a little too quickly but everything that happens to him after he gets hooked is totally real. Along with CLEAN AND SOBER, this movie so clearly and honestly demonstrates where drug addiction can take you...how nothing else becomes important but how and where that next high is coming from. There is one harrowing scene after another here. We see Jim returning to his mother (Lorraine Bracco) after being kicked out of the house and we see Jim turn from begging child to threatening thug in a matter of seconds, a scene brilliantly performed by DiCaprio. We see Jim and his friends beat up an old lady for her purse and we even see Jim prostitute himself with a man in order to get money. It's a frightening and realistic spiral downward that Jim takes and he does make it back, but it is important to remember when watching this film that a lot don't. DiCaprio gets solid support from future star Mark Wahlberg, Bruno Kirby, Jr., Juliette Lewis, and Michael Imperioli. A harrowing film experience that will not be forgotten once the credits roll.

When you've watched plenty of movies based on some drug-addict life story you can't help compare them... I mean, the story is always the same: a guy begins having drugs for fun, or because he's boring, or just because he's young and wants to try new experiences, then he gets hooked, starts to rob or to prostitute himself, and eventually ends up in prison. That's what we see in Christiane F., El Pico, Trainspotting, Drugstore Cowboy... There may be differences in the form, and in the characters, but the content is always the same.

The dinstictive feature of Basketball Diaries is that the main character actually exists: Jim Carroll, a writer-singer-performer born in NYC in the 50's. And this is supposed to be his autobiography (or the cinema adaptation of some diaries he wrote when he was a teenager, heroin-addicted). Because of that, Basketball D. is more poetic than the rest of the movies I named before, the voice over of DiCaprio's character is present all along the film, telling us about his thoughts (rather nihilistic's) , with a style near to Burroughs or Jack Kerouac, urban poetry, tough and without ornament. Maybe that's the strong point of Basketball Diaries, because movies such as Christiane F. or El Pico recreates much better what it means to be a drug-addict, they're much more explicit, more dirty, much harder...

DiCaprio's performance deserves a new paragraph, 'cause it's simply astonishing. His best performance EVER, plenty of different shades. As he did in Gilbert Grape or This Boy's Life, he shows us how versatile he can be. If only he'd choose better the films he works in.

My rate: 7/10

There is a type of disease associated with St. Vitus and this film qualifies in the comparison because it's quirky, fast, and it never stops moving. Director Scott Kalvert gives the movie a 'look' that makes the Manhattan of the period when it supposedly takes place, believable.

Leonardo DiCaprio was at his best in the film. His performance is very nuanced and in your face, at the same time. Mr. DiCaprio makes you feel the pain Jim is going through; he is a lost soul. Not being a fan of Mark Wahlberg, I must confess that in this film, be it because of the direction, or whatever, he shines, as Mickey.

As Jim's mother, Lorraine Bracco has never been better in anything she has been in recent memory. Bruno Kirby is perfectly creepy as the coach of St. Vitus High School.

As far as the connection with the Columbine School massacre, since the sequence where Jim is involved is a dream, it's easy to understand how the twisted minds of the ones responsible for the killings would have taken this scene as a model for their terrible crime.

Beings that this was Leonardo's first leading role, he was very impressive as Jim Carroll. The movie also stars Lorraine Bracco, Marc Wahlberg, James Madio and Patrick McGaw as his mother and sidekicks respectfully. As an ex-addict myself, I could relate to his story and everything he went through. The movie was so real it brought up a lot of old memories that I thought I had forgotten. I wish every young person was made to see this movie as it takes the fun and games out of even recreational drug use. Not even the strong survive. I give it two thumbs way up and my sincere thanks to Jim Carroll for fighting off his demons to write "The Baasketball Diaries".

Leonardo Di Caprio puts in the best performance of his career in this sickening true story of boys growing up in a man's world. Him and his friends(including boogie night's Mark Wahlberg) start a life threatening race of drugs and murder.

Ernie Hudson puts in a small appearance as Reggie, the do gooder who tries to put Leo on the right tracks. Juliette Lewis is smartly placed as the local prostitute, and Bruno Kirby plays the gay basketball coach to perfection.

The most disturbing scene for me was when Reggie tries to get Jimmy(leo) off of drugs by locking him in a room for a long time. Both actors do well with Leo in a polished performance. The Basketball Diaries is disturbing, but at the same time, it tells the truth in a way that keeps the images in your mind. If it had one fault, it was under using Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imporliano(both appeared in Goodfellas and The Sopranos). Rating=3/5

It pisses me off when people say that 'Basketball Diaries' is a rip-off of 'Requiem for a Dream.' The stupidity of the uneducated. It was interesting though seeing the similarities to both films, but that is besides the point.

I was one of those people who thought that Leonardo DeCaprio was just a washed up 'Teen Beat' cover boy. All of that because of 'Titanic.' I really hate to admit that now that I have seen the majority of his work. The first time I really began changing my mind was in 2002 when he starred in both 'Gangs of New York' and 'Catch Me if You Can.' What got me thinking is that both Scorsese and Spielberg aren't the type of directors to hire an actor just because they have a teenage fanbase and also, DeCaprio's performances in both were excellent.

But, it wasn't until recently that I changed my mind completely and realized just how much of an under-appreciated actor he is. He has done films like 'The Beach,' 'Basketball Diaries,' and more, all of which received high acclaim, but because of 'Titanic,' people won't give him a seconds glance. And he was great in 'Titanic.'

Honestly, I doubt that there is any other actor out there who could've done a better job as Jim Carrol. Hell, even Mark Whalberg did a great job. He is another under-appreciated actor.

If you are one of the many people who say that they won't see 'Basketball Diaries' because of Leo, don't be so judgmental. He made the movie so wonderful. It is an excellent film and he is an excellent actor.

9/10

I found it hard to watch because of my personal opinion on drugs, but it was a good perspective, felt real and easy to put yourself in those shoes. Leo was great as always and for that year, the biography movie was really well made, I wish they could do them like this now. Kudos to the production department! Make more movies like these please!

This is a very good depressing movie. But, you can't make a good anti-drug movie without making it depressing. DiCaprio is brilliant. Arnie from What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Richard from The Beach, and Jim Carroll from the Basketball Diaries are about Leo's deepest characters. He is an excellent actor. The scenes that get you the most are the withdrawal scenes, and everytime he confronts his mother in the movie. This movie deserves a 10

Catholic schoolboy Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) lives with his mother (Lorraine Bracco). He's the brash leader of his friends Pedro (James Madio), Neutron (Patrick McGaw) and Mickey (Mark Wahlberg) sniffing glue and causing trouble. They play winning basketball for their lecherous coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby). His best friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli) is dying of leukemia. He plays neighborhood ball with Reggie (Ernie Hudson). He starts to do cocaine and then heroin which sends him down a very dark road.

The movie seems to take place in both the present day and somewhere in the 60s. That conflicted feel along with the poetic diary entries create a surreal dreamlike vibe. It takes the tension out of the movie and limits the immediacy. Leo and everybody do a good job. Leo's star power shines and keeps the movie interesting. However, I just don't feel a sense of danger from this dark coming-of-age movie.

For the past few years, "The Basketball Diaries" has been blamed for a rash of disconnected school massacres in the United States. The anti-media zealots who blame school violence on the fantasy sequence, where Jim Carroll(Leonardo DiCaprio) barges into his classroom to kill everyone in sight, starting with his teacher, ignore the facts, as usual.

The reasons that Carroll fantasized about this killing spree were; 1)The teacher got a sick thrill from beating his pupils, and 2)Carroll was high on heroin. Of course, one does not need to become a drug addict, in order to desire revenge against power mad tyrants, who exploit people that they believe themselves to be morally superior to. As for the kids of Columbine High, and other pre-Columbine mass-murderers, most of them were either bullies, or victims of bullies. The fact that they were fans of this movie is irrelevant. If what I'm saying isn't true, then perhaps the opponents of free speech would like to tell me why there weren't a rash of school shootings following the 1968 movie "If..."

Rent, or buy an original copy of this film for the following reasons; 1)The talent of Leonardo DiCaprio, 2)The explanation for that controversial fantasy sequence, and 3)The music video for the song "People Who Died,' by the REAL Jim Carroll, just in case you thought that when he made that song 20 years ago, he was only kidding.

Acting: The cast was great, it consists of people that will later on be known as A listers. The acting was done right and let's you feel for the characters your watching. Whether its happiness all the way to sadness. It has well developed characters and it's not hard to relate to them.

Cinematography: Pretty decent camera shots and quality of film especially for the time. Every shot and scene seems to be done with meaning and purpose.

Story: This being based of a true story makes it even more of a hit to the gut. From beginning to end its filled with interesting characters and story. You follow a group of boys through good times, funny moments and then as their lives start to crumble further into the story so does your mood and hope for their future. This is definitely a emotional story that builds up and shows hardships Leo's character faces. It includes pedophilia, drug addiction, loss of friendship, death and more. The end was nice but ended quite suddenly and randomly. Some parts in the film did seem a bit unrealistic as well. But overall the story hit hard and was done well.

Summary: This film tells a emotional tale of some hard times kids can face in life. It's not the best I've seen. But for me it definitely was a really good movie. I would highly suggest it if your into your emotional movies. 7.5/10 for me.

I think 'The basketball diaries' is a realistic and very important movie. It shows the road that one walks to being addicted to drugs. From taking dope once a week to taking dope every day, every hour. Leonardo DiCaprio playes a basketballplayer, a schoolkid(Jim Carrol) who walks this path. He experiments with drugs 'till there is no way back. He gets himself in all kinds of stupid situations. He starts robbing stores, ripping off money from old ladies just to get some cash for dope. His life is beginning to look like a living hell. His basketballcoach wants to have sex with him, and when he passes out on the basketballfield due to taking a wrong kind of 'pep-pil', he gets kicked out of the basketball team and from school. From this moment on everything goes in a downward spiral for DiCaprio.

An excellent scenario you would say, and it is. The acting from DiCaprio is great. We saw it earlier on in his career when he got oscar-nominated for 'What's eating gilbert grape'. A gripping drama in which he playes a disabled kid. But in 'The basketball diaries' he playes an equally difficult part. Not a lot actors would have put down this kid who's life is wrecked, and who is constantly thinking about dope as well as DiCaprio did.

The statement the movie delivers is a powerfull one. Being addicted to drugs is horrible. Usually people learn about this aspect trough seminars or televisonshows such as Oprah Winfrey. But it never really gets the kind of attention and understanding from the audience as 'The Basketball diaries' delivers.

The amazing performance by DiCaprio, the fact that this movie is actually based on a true story and the reality the movie is set in, 'The basketball diaries' deserves a 9 out of 10.

A movie that has always bypassed me until now. Based on a true life story, a tale of wasted talent through drug addiction. A very young Leonardo Dicaprio excels here, carrying the movie at times. Also look out for a young Mark Wahlberg as one of his closest friends, who really isn't a pleasant character.

The tone of the movie is all over the place and it is hard to find any characters with redeeming qualities. Ernie Hudson's character being the exception but he is underused here.

A good movie is struggling to come out but the script could have done with tightening up exploring the relationships between characters more. Sometimes it feels style over substance.

Even in this early stage of his career you can see why Leonardo DiCaprio went on to be a big star.

The Basketball Diaries

I don't think this is Leo's best performance but is a Leo performance. The movie is very good, sometimes it seemed that the other actors performance were very fake? Idk maybe it is just me but it the end the message of the movie is clear and very well executed.

If the U.S. government wanted to win the "war on drugs", all they had to do was show this film in every high school in America ... a lot cheaper than running the D.E.A., I reckon. There are other films which could fit into this group; "Midnight Express" comes to mind. During the short time that I spent living in Toronto, I saw a shocking number of people whose lives were destroyed by drugs. I believe that the real root of the drug pandemic lies in the fact that young people don't understand the nature of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. I take my hat off to Leo. He is a much better actor than people give him credit for being.

It's set in 1960s Manhattan and is a coming-of-age story of a teenage boy's descent into drug addiction. It seems to have a fairly distant relationship to Carroll's own story.

Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is part of a small group of teenage guys at a Catholic high school. His best friend, Bobby (Michael Imperioli), has terminal leukemia. Other friends include Mickey (Mark Wahlberg), Pedro (James Madio), and Neutron (Patrick McGaw). His single mother (Lorraine Bracco) struggles to hold things together. The basketball coach (Bruno Kirby) is an in-the-closet gay man who pursues Jim. Jim constantly records his thoughts and unfolding events in booklets, often in poetic language.

The guys get into increasing trouble with small thefts and teenage shenanigans until they begin to get hooked on pills. After accidentally taking downers instead of uppers, Jim, Mickey, and Pedro get thrown out of school. Neutron resists the pill culture and goes on to become a high school All-American basketball player. The three guys then begin to use heroin and become increasingly addicted.

The film follows their descent into legal trouble, efforts by acquaintances to help them, and a very short "explanation" at the end of how Jim escapes addiction and begins to share his poetry publicly.

The film is interesting mostly as one of Leonardo DiCaprio's earlier films. In my view, he actually does a good job, but the screenplay and direction are quite wanting. There are quick cuts from scene to scene, and outside of DiCaprio's character, the rest are quite limited.

This movie is quite a downer because of its nature and the quick "positive" ending. And in my view, it doesn't do as good a job of portraying descent into addiction as a film like "Panic in Needle Park."

This film is an unapologetic look at the plunge into the nightmare world of drugs and teen angst. Though based on a true story (however lightly) it has tremendous merit by itself. It abandons the preachy politically correct pathway and takes you down the road without any warning. It leaves the viewer free to form their own opinion. I love it!

The Basketball Diaries is the story of the true experiences of Jim Carroll, underground poet and entertainer, and how he overcame drug addiction to become what he is today.

Leonardo DiCaprio has done a magnificent and extraordinary job portraying the lead character. He makes you feel the pain that Jim was going through. His emotions are so pure and realistic that you'll fall in love with his character.

This movie is a must watch for young people who get into drug addiction and spoil their lives. It portrays the mindset of teenagers and youngsters and the consequences of their actions.

It's difficult to realize your mistake but the sad part is that even after realization, you think you can't do anything about it. You think it's too late when it's not. It's actually never too late.

Leonardo plays a character who is a talented basketball player, who gets involved in drugs along with his friends. After that he leaves everything even his mother and the only thing left in his life was drugs.

Slowly and steadily this addiction can get you into a lot of trouble and situations that it may become impossible for you to make everything right again.

Overall, it's an important movie with a lot of powerful performances.