The Basketball Diaries

The tale related here isn't all that original, but the honest presentation lends impact to a wrenching scenario.

Kalvert and Goluboff overcome predictability by developing the film's characters and atmosphere instead. The result is a turbocharged ode to the lithe bodies and swaggering souls of boys who believe they're invincible - a glorious love song of youthful self-destructiveness.

Without rising star DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg this would have been considerably more turgid and unappealing. But their charm allows sympathy and involvement with the characters, despite their efforts towards self-destruction.

The star shines, but the movie is hard to watch.

The movie is unconvincing. At the end, Jim is seen going in through a "stage door," and then we hear him telling the story of his descent and recovery. We can't tell if this is supposed to be genuine testimony or a performance. That's the problem with the whole movie.

Imagine if "On the Road" ended with Sal and Dean settling down in the 'burbs. Or if the carnal encounters in Henry Miller's "Sexus" were prefaced with admonitions to the reader not to "objectify" women. The Basketball Diaries is a similar travesty: It turns a celebration of outlaw life into a just-say-no cautionary tale that Nancy Reagan would love.

There's little momentum, no real story line, just Carroll's tediously inevitable descent from low to lowest.

Most underrated movie maybe just because people hating on Leo... 9 out of 10 A movie that really shocked me in my teenage years Must see!

Was not sure what to expect coming into the movie but was very pleased with it. Young Leonardo DiCaprio was as good as he was in Inception. Mark Wahlberg did not get very much recognition for the film, I actually did not even know he was in it until the credits rolled, but did an equally astounding job. Basketball Diaries was mos definitely edgy pushing the limits. A fine addition for DiCaprio lovers and movie collectors.

A movie where you can see both - how much harm drugs deal to young people. And how great was Leonardo DiCaprio in his teenage years. Based on a true story.

A so-so adaptation of Jim Carroll's acclaimed memoir, "The Basketball Diaries" finds Leonardo DiCaprio giving it his absolute all in a film that tries to have it both ways, scratching at some of the transgressive and challenging elements of the source material, while also attempting to maintain that pristine veneer of your typical, Hollywood anti-drug PSA. I also, weirdly, found the period elements to be basically nonexistent from this. This whole movie's supposed to take place during the 1960's and I just did not get that vibe at all from any of the locations and set-dressing employed throughout. This might be a piece that could truly benefit from another filmmaker coming around and taking a second crack at things. I think the story and voice are strong enough for that to be the case, at least. For now, we have this, which isn't terrible by any means. Just a bit played out and lacking in any kind of true depth, as a result.

"The Basketball Diaries" was a good movie but also very frustrating , first by the title , that is focusing the life of Jim Carroll and Leonardo DiCaprio did his job , besides the story speaks only of young drug addicts pranksters and not they became talented basketball players , but beyond that the tone was good .