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Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio
as Jim Carroll

Lorraine Bracco
as Jim's Mother

Bruno Kirby
as Swifty

Ernie Hudson
as Reggie Porter

Patrick McGaw
as Neutron

James Madio
as Pedro

Mark Wahlberg
as Mickey

Erik "Panther" Betts
as Drug Dealer #1

Barton Heyman
as Confessional Priest

Roy Cooper
as Father McNulty

Josh Mostel
as Counterman

Juliette Lewis
as Diane Moody

Michael Rapaport
as Skinhead

Michael Imperioli
as Bobby

Marilyn Sokol
as Chanting Woman

Manny Siverio
as Pino

Vinnie Patore
as Construction Worker

Tom Fitzpatrick
as Subway John

Vincent Pastore
as Construction Worker

Jimmy Papiris
as Iggy

Alexander Chaplin
as Bobo

Ben Jorgensen
as Tommy

Akiko Ashley
as Stripper

Manny Alfaro
as Manny

Cynthia Daniel
as Winkie

Brittany Daniel
as Blinkie

Eric Betts
as Drug Dealer

Joyce R. Korbin
as Mugging Victim

Nick Gaetani
as Referee No. 1

Lawrence Barth
as Referee No. 2

Gary Iorio
as Policeman

Toby Huss
as Kenny

Jim Carroll
as Frankie Pinewater

William Webb
as Juju Johnson

John C. Vennema
as Mr. Rubin

Doc Dougherty
as Policeman

John Hoyt
as Billy the Bartender

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Critic Reviews for The Basketball Diaries

Audience Reviews for The Basketball Diaries

• Apr 28, 2014

  Leonardo's acting was brilliant. But aside from that, I don't think there is any more to look forward to in seeing this film.
  Maymay A Super Reviewer
• Nov 22, 2012

  The Basketball Diaries (1995) is not initially about the sport itself, but the abuse of drug consumption. The message here falls flat with it excellent cast barely saving the film from being just another "Say no to drugs" service announcement. The Basketball Diaries recall the true events of author Jim Carroll's falling victim to drugs and seeing his world collapse in front of him. The film has a good moral to send out, but fails to give us deep characters. The film just expects to care about these character because they are just teenagers ruining their life; though skipping over character developments does it moral no favor. Some scenes that were meant to powerful just fall short, like when Leonardo dreams about killing his students and teachers Terminator style, fall flat because of a lack of depth. The dialogue here is odd, just don't expect award winning material from a film that has the line "Time sure fly by when your young and jerking off" in it. The only saving grace come from it cast, especially Leonardo DiCaprio who gives a fantastic dramatic performance. He simply shines in this and in spite the lack of the character development, his good performance is good enough make you care what he's going through. He gives the film one very memorable and powerful film when he begs his mother for money. The rest of the cast is solid as well. Even Mark Wahlberg was good; though he never interest me as an actor (he barely chooses an interesting leading role in my opinion). Every single one the actors have great chemistry with one another making up for the writing shortcoming. The Basketball Diaries has an excellent cast that makes up for it plot which lack depth. It's solid film with a good message that fails to be as effective as it could have been or as inspiring as it source material.
  Caesar M Super Reviewer
• Aug 16, 2011

  Used to despise Caprio initially, but now he's growing on me. Probably I was not qualified to see how talented an actor is. But I guess I'm progressing with time, at least in that direction. Or maybe it's vice versa. [Hell, whenever I comment, for most of the times, it's not entirely concentrated on the movie itself. Instead of asking (begging would come last, if at all) for your pardon, I'd rather that you get used to it. Even better, stop wa.....] Back to the movie. Oh, hadn't started in the first place!!! The movie entertains as long as it depicts the teenage kiddo activities of Jim and company. It's fun for that part except for the sobby Bobby track in which Leonardo sucks. But the movie sort of descends with his downfall. It tries to portray the frustrations of an addicted teenager and how his relationships are worsened, but doesn't get it right. It becomes a bit too melodramatic, and some cliched dialogues only make it worse. And once he runs out of money to fetch drugs, it becomes tough not only for him but also for us. Wish it was the same for the recovery part. However, on the whole, the movie's worth a shot. If you decide to see "The Basketball Diaries", please be cautious enough to not to piss on it.
  familiar s Super Reviewer
• Jun 12, 2011

  Leo makes this movie awesome. His acting skills are amazing in this. The film didn't really show Jim's spiral into addiction. It was kind of just like one minute he's clean, then the next he's a full fledged druggie. The plot was supposed to be based on a true story, but it was pretty damn unrealistic e.g. the guy falling off the roof, the coach being a pervert, the excessive mugging etc. It was all way too dramatized. I didn't like that. Other than that, it was pretty good. Leo pretty much made the movie.
  Japes . Super Reviewer

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