This Boy's Life Reviews

The film demands ominous electricity between Dwight and Toby, the latter of whom endures various and sundry humiliation and harm at the former's hands. And there are times when DiCaprio doesn't just go toe-to-toe with De Niro but feels just as tall.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5

This is powerful and moving stuff.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4

Something more subtle is going on in Wolff's book, a confrontation with a richer, quirkier past and his emerging self that the movie too often brushes aside.

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The leads work overtime to make their characters and their relationships pungent, believable, and moving.

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De Niro and Birkin are reliable in this atmospheric drama, but it's DiCaprio who really shines.

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A young DiCaprio steals the show in this tale of learning how to be a man, with a sly De Niro also giving a good performance, but with a plot that drags on too long.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Nicely acted but excessively bland.

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A powerful if familiar family melodrama with a bravura performance from newcomer Leonardo DiCaprio, who's bound to become a major actor in the future.

Full Review | Original Score: B

It's a rites-of-passage drama with the kind of period small-town setting that the director is making his own.

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Well acted, but bleak and slow-moving.

| Original Score: 3/5

De Niro does great work here. Highly underrated flick.

| Original Score: 4/5

Outstanding performances from DeNiro and Di Caprio in a tough, lyrical drama

| Original Score: 4/5

a compelling character study that is well worth watching just for Dicaprio's performance

Full Review | Original Score: B+

This Boy's Life shows how a resilient teenager survives childhood trauma and adversity through independence, anger and creativity..

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This Boy's Life is so steeped in period detail (music, cars, television shows, hair styles) that Toby and Caroline's sad, bumbling search for freedom seems secondary, almost impolite to the decor.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

DiCaprio goes toe-to-toe with De Niro, though his spectacular efforts here continue to be overshadowed by his Oscar-baiting in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4

Leonardo DiCaprio, in his first major role, stole this movie right out from under Robert DeNiro's feet. A great coming-of-age tale based on a very good book.

| Original Score: 4/5

A powerful, moving picture....Di Caprio and De Niro are a solid combination

| Original Score: 3/5

Involving, but not finally effective

| Original Score: 3/5

Caton-Jones has an extraordinary find in Leonardo DiCaprio, the 17-year-old newcomer who plays Toby with just the right mixture of ingenuous sweetness and simmering anger.

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