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03/26/09
The Basketball Diaries (1995)
38
%
Tomatometer
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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... [More]
Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Wahlberg, Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby
Director: Scott Kalvert
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Reviews for The Basketball Diaries
Top CriticAlthough 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.
03/24/08
For those few soul-freezing moments, you get a glimpse of the great actor Leonardo DiCaprio is going to be.
03/24/08
Top CriticIf the idea of watching Leonardo DiCaprio pout for 90 minutes gives you sweaty palms, by all means go.
03/24/08
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.
03/24/08
Top CriticThe angel-faced DiCaprio is a gifted actor, but he lacks the authority and physical presence to keep us with him.
01/26/06
No review available.
10/10/05
No review available.
09/29/05
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.
06/15/05
No review available.
10/04/04
The star shines, but the movie is hard to watch.
08/30/04
Top CriticCrushingly over-emoted and internally inconsistent; for Leo die-hards only, and how many of those are around anymore?
04/20/04
No review available.
09/27/03
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05/14/03
Okay film that unjustly caused its fair share of controversy.
04/01/03
No review available.
12/30/02
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11/07/02
No review available.
08/31/02
Remarkable.
10/01/01
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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