The Basketball Diaries

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The Basketball Diaries

R

1995

1h 42m

Drama

Crime

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is consumed by his life as a high school basketball star. Pressured by a wicked coach (Bruno Kirby) and a concerned mother (Lorraine Bracco), Jim develops an appetite for heroin. Soon, the mean streets of New York City have replaced the basketball court as his main destination. Jim and his friends scrounge, steal and prostitute themselves to score drugs. Jim's only chance to escape addiction may be Reggie (Ernie Hudson), a neighborhood friend and hoops companion.

Critics Consensus

In spite of its young leading man's heroic efforts to hold it all together, a muddled message prevents The Basketball Diaries from compelling as a cautionary tale.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

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

Rated: B-

Mar 24, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

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.

Mar 24, 2008

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Time Out

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

Jan 26, 2006

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

There is no conflict here, just pointless and aimless wandering. It's a downer but, nonetheless, an intriguing DiCaprio performance.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 1, 2022

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Q.V. Hough

Vague Visages

DiCaprio's early 90s accomplishments have been widely dismissed or ignored ever since Titanic's Jack Dawson become a beloved movie figure amongst parents and their nostalgia-loving kids.

Feb 18, 2022

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Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

The screenplay could definitely have been better-but it's worth the watch for Leo's performance alone.

Jan 7, 2022

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Blu B

A Classic Drama and warning against drug use. This stands as a cautionary tale right with American History X and Requiem for A Dream. It's really well made all around. The first half of this film is good but the weaker of the two. It feels like it's a bit sloppy setting up everything and stuff sometimes can just happen. It doesn't really set up the 3 individual friends that well and they sort of blend in besides Whalberg who does a good job. Acting wise Ernie Hudson & DiCaprio are really good and the stand outs. Sometimes the acting can be a bit over the top but it works. The direction, camerawork, framing, on location setting all really works and does a great job immersing you in this surreal world you never wanna visit beyond the screen. It gives off a mix of 70's gritty asetics with Requiem For A Dream type direction. It can be a bit weird but it works for a crazy story like this. The best scene is easily Hudson & DiCaprio together. It's excellent gripping stuff. It's a shame there isn't more of that throughout. It gets sharper, gritter and more intense in the second half in a grueling way. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, dramas, coming of age stories, or films that deal with addiction should check this out.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/25

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holly c

probably in my top 5 movies of the 90's. can't believe half of these reviews. truly a brilliant movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

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Krish P

Great acting. Heart breaking. Best drama I’ve seen in a long time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/25

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valami v

i like dramas, but i didnt feel this one

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

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Dionisis T

Can't say I wasn't amazed by Leo but it had its flaws...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

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Audience Member

This movie is rhe only dramatic movie i ever like! Leonardo is so really cute when he was younger days lol i love his acting! Very talented young leonardo he is so much cute love his talent when he was young

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

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Scott Kalvert

Director

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jim Carroll

Bruno Kirby

Swifty

Lorraine Bracco

Jim's Mother

Ernie Hudson

Reggie

Patrick McGaw

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56%

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Synopsis

Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) is consumed by his life as a high school basketball star. Pressured by a wicked coach (Bruno Kirby) and a concerned mother (Lorraine Bracco), Jim develops an appetite for heroin. Soon, the mean streets of New York City have replaced the basketball court as his main destination. Jim and his friends scrounge, steal and prostitute themselves to score drugs. Jim's only chance to escape addiction may be Reggie (Ernie Hudson), a neighborhood friend and hoops companion.

Director: Scott Kalvert
Producer: Liz Heller, John Bard Manulis
Screenwriter: Bryan Goluboff
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Island Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Crime, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Oct 19, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo