The Basketball Diaries

A fascinating performance by DiCaprio in a legendary 1990s drug teen romp that's very open, gritty and authentic for its time, but retains that teenage playfulness and optimism. A brilliantly balanced and at times respectably shocking probe into New York's drug dens. A film that should be shown to a generation of teenagers, so that they know what to prepare for if they want to experiment. (09/07/2020)

Despite the high ratings, I naively thought it would be just another routine sports drama, of which the proud Americans produce several every year. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. While drug addiction and its effects have been dissected from all angles, from Boyle's experimental Trainspotting to the harsh reality of Requiem for a Dream, The Basketball Diaries has a lot to say in this regard and manages to dig deep under the skin. And the biggest credit for this goes to the heroic performance of a young DiCaprio, who handled his difficult role in such style that I couldn't stop staring. As much as I didn't like him after Titanic and Gangs of New York, lately I have to admit that he’s one of the most talented actors of our time. The simplicity of the story may be misleading, but in this case it's the strongest clue in order to get as attached to the film as possible and to acknowledge that something like this can happen to anyone. Some may see in this film only Hollywood pathos and exaggerated gloss, but it doesn't detract from its quality. 80% (04/04/2013)