Rating of
3/4
The Basketball Diaries review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 09/07/12
The film is not a sports flick, but based on an autobiographical book of the same name about Jim Carroll's (Leonardo DiCaprio) experience. Jim notes down the best friend he had who died of leukemia, his flawed coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby), teen rage and substance abuse. Editing, soundtrack and direction were solid. One will see the greatness of a young DiCaprio, who was really focse and believable in his performance. Lorraine Bracco was likewise dazzling in her role and Wahlberg electrifying. If only the basketball scenes were not too clownish and choreographed, added minute humor or at least some ice breaker to remove the tension of the seriousness, then it would have been a memorable film. Basketball Diaries is a wonderful film on drugs which lacks the charm of Trainspotting and the dark humored creative beauty of Requiem for a Dream.
