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Movies / On DVD / The Basketball Diaries
The Basketball Diaries

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The Basketball Diaries (1995)

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38 %
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Reviews Counted: 34

Fresh: 13

Rotten:21

Average Rating: 4.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins

Genre: Dramas

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... 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 junkies. Expelled from school for using drugs before a game, Jim is also thrown out of his house and takes up street hustling. A pre-superstardom DiCaprio gives a strong performance in this gritty and uncompromising look at being young and streetwise. [More]

Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby

Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby, Juliette Lewis, Michael Imperioli, Ernie Hudson, Brittany Daniel

Director: Scott Kalvert

Director: Scott Kalvert
Screenwriter: Brian Goluboff

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Nov 30, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Basketball Diaries

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Di Caprio gives a bravura turn that should've won him an Oscar

comment Comment
07/23/08
Clint Morris
Moviehole

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.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/24/08
Channel 4 Film

For those few soul-freezing moments, you get a glimpse of the great actor Leonardo DiCaprio is going to be.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
03/24/08
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If the idea of watching Leonardo DiCaprio pout for 90 minutes gives you sweaty palms, by all means go.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
03/24/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/24/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The angel-faced DiCaprio is a gifted actor, but he lacks the authority and physical presence to keep us with him.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

No review available.

comment Comment
10/10/05
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
09/29/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

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.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment 1 Comment
06/15/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/04/04
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

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

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Crushingly over-emoted and internally inconsistent; for Leo die-hards only, and how many of those are around anymore?

comment Comment
04/20/04
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

No review available.

comment Comment
09/27/03
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Palo Alto Weekly

Okay film that unjustly caused its fair share of controversy.

comment Comment
04/01/03
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

No review available.

comment Comment
12/30/02
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix

No review available.

comment Comment
08/31/02
John A. Nesbit
ToxicUniverse.com

Remarkable.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
10/01/01
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
 
 
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Latest News for The Basketball Diaries

August 16, 2006: Character Actor Bruno Kirby, Dead at 57
You'd immediately recognize the face (and the voice) from movies like "City Slickers," "Good Morning Vietnam," and "When Harry Met Sally," but you... More...

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