This Boy's Life

1993

This Boy's Life

Critics Consensus

A harrowing, moving drama about a young boy, his single mother, and his abusive stepfather, This Boy's Life benefits from its terrific cast, and features a breakout performance from a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

76%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 37

79%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 22,956
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Movie Info

This Boy's Life is a true-life coming-of-age story about '50s teenager Tobias Wolff (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his mother, Caroline (Ellen Barkin). After travelling around the country in an effort to avoid Caroline's abusive boyfriend, the mother and son settle in Washington state, where she marries a man named Dwight Hansen (Robert DeNiro), who appears to be a good husband and father. However, Dwight reveals himself as an abusive man shortly after the marriage; in particular, he verbally harasses and physically beats the young Tobias. By the end of the film, Tobias has to confront his stepfather. This Boy's Life is based on the autobiographical book of the same name by the real Tobias Wolff.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Michael Caton-Jones
  • Written By:
    Robert Getchell
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Home Video

Cast

Robert De Niro
as Dwight
Ellen Barkin
as Caroline
Leonardo DiCaprio
as Toby
Jonah Blechman
as Gayle
Eliza Dushku
as Pearl
Chris Cooper
as Roy
Carla Gugino
as Norma
Zack Ansley
as Skipper
Zachary Ansley
as Skipper
Rachel Abroms
Tracey Ellis
as Kathy
Kathy Kinney
as Marian
Owens Hill
Bobby Zameroski
as Arch Cook
Tobey Maguire
as Chuck Bolger
Tristan Tait
as Jerry Huff
Travis MacDonald
as Psycho
Richard Liss
as A & P Manager
Michael Bacall
as Terry Taylor
Adam Sneller
as Terry Silver
Gerrit Graham
as Mr. Howard
Thomas Kopache
as Geiger Counter Vendor
Lee Wilkof
as Principal Shippy
Sean Murray
as Jimmy Voorhees
Jason Horst
as Oscar Booker
Deanna Milligan
as Silver Sister 1
Morgan Brayton
as Silver Sister 2
Dwight McFee
as Voice in Crowd
Robert Munns
as Ticket Seller
Bill Dow
as Vice Principal
Shawn MacDonald
as A & P Employee
Frank C. Turner
as Truck Driver
John R. Taylor
as Minister
Stephen E. Miller
as Target Ranger
Ken Camroux
as 2nd Place Shooter
Ross Chaston
as Score Caller
Scott Woodmansee
as Crash Witness
Sonny Kompanek
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Critic Reviews for This Boy's Life

All Critics (37) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (9)

  • The beauty of This Boy's Life is in the details: this meticulously observed story gets the look of the late '50s down pat and, more important, captures the dissonance between the era's ideals of nuclear-family life and painfully deracinated reality.

    Feb 13, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Feb 8, 2010 | Full Review…

    Richard Corliss

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

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

    Feb 8, 2010 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Nicely acted but excessively bland.

    Jun 3, 2008

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

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

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…

    Wally Hammond

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

    Vincent Canby

    New York Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (37)

Audience Reviews for This Boy's Life

  • Aug 01, 2011
    Before the heights of stardom, a young Leonardo DiCaprio built his name with this coming-of-age tale based on the real life memoirs of writer Tobias Wolff. On this evidence it's easy to see why his talents couldn't be ignored. Caroline (Ellen Barkin) drifts from State to State and boyfriend to boyfriend, dragging her now teenage son Toby (Leonardo DiCaprio) along with her. Finally it seems she may have met the man of her dreams, in the shape of Dwight (Robert DeNiro). After excitedly making plans to stay this time and begin a new life, it becomes apparent they were a little swift to judge as Dwight's gentlemanly facade begins to slide, revealing his true nature. Scottish director Michael Caton-Jones ("Rob Roy") shows he has an excellent eye for detail in small town America and an even better eye for talent in discovering Leonardo DiCaprio. His performance here is nothing short of astounding and when pitted against the likes of Robert DeNiro, you kind of have to be on your game. Not only is DiCaprio on top of his game for such a young age, he matches - if not betters - the legendary actor. His portrayal of Toby is heartfelt and extremely emotional. Ranging from desperation and capitulation to courage and triumph. He displays a myriad of emotions as a misunderstood and frustrated young man, with sudden bursts of violence and a rebellious nature, to an eventual inner strength and maturity. His performance is helped no-end by the chemistry he shares with DeNiro. They both play off one another powerfully. DeNiro offering another skillfully nuanced addition to his canon of dysfunctional and abusive characters throughout his illustrious career. You can almost feel the jealous rage that consumes Dwight, a very physical and psychologically abusive man. The verbal and mental jousting between both actors is raw and highly charged, eventually culminating into physical brutality with a fight scene that looks entirely realistic. Two wonderful actors delivering powerhouse performances. Unfortunately, despite her obvious talents, Ellen Barkin is left caught between the two male leads with a very underwritten role. However, she's no slouch and still manages a show of strength in her character as well as a vulnerability. This is an absolutely harrowing and absorbing true life story with a perfectly rendered 1950's setting and a fine supporting cast that deserves far more recognition than it's recieved. With two indefatigable and energetic lead performances it's easy to see why Robert DeNiro is regarded as the greatest screen actor of his time and why DiCaprio became a star and may yet follow in the legend's footsteps.
    Mark W Super Reviewer
  • May 14, 2011
    Two acting powerhouses from two generations, a young DiCaprio and De-Niro, locks horns in this gripping movie about a dysfunctional family. No one watching this movie then would've known that this was the signs of things to come. Years later, DiCaprio have grown in to a similar stature of DeNiro, even replacing him as the as the certain fixture in Scorsese movies.
    Sajin P Super Reviewer
  • Jan 24, 2011
    Editing could be tighter. Still, the story is compelling, as are the characters, thanks to their excellent chemistry and well-done potrayals. Seriously, 16 and DiCaprio still makes a killing? How? As for De Niro, I think I can see the notoriety. Really, there's not much to say about the movie, but it's still really worth checking out, especially when you wanna see one of DiCaprio's first steps to success. Also, what's with all the smoking? Was there anyone not smoking? I think I saw a squirrel taking a drag in the background.
    Cameron J Super Reviewer
  • Dec 22, 2010
    Tragic childhoods do not always make great or even good movies! I see movies like this and think the movie could just as well be based on my childhood!
    Thomas J Super Reviewer
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