Synopsis
A high school basketball player’s life turns upside down after free-falling into the harrowing world of drug addiction.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprioJim Carroll
- Mark WahlbergMickey
- Lorraine BraccoJim's Mother
- Michael ImperioliBobby
- Ernie HudsonReggie
- Juliette LewisDiane Moody
- James MadioPedro
- Bruno KirbySwifty
- Patrick McGawNeutron
- Manny AlfaroManny
Recommendations
- 88
ReelViews
The tale related here isn't all that original, but the honest presentation lends impact to a wrenching scenario. - 75
Rolling Stone
[Kalvert] best serves the movie by simply focusing on DiCaprio, who communicates the spirit and blunt truth of the diaries even when the movie keeps trying to soften the blow. - 70
Dallas Observer
Kalvert and Goluboff overcome predictability by developing the film's characters and atmosphere instead. The result is a turbocharged ode to the lithe bodies and swaggering souls of boys who believe they're invincible - a glorious love song of youthful self-destructiveness. - 67
Entertainment Weekly
It's an energetic, watchable mess. - 60
Empire
Without rising star DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg this would have been considerably more turgid and unappealing. But their charm allows sympathy and involvement with the characters, despite their efforts towards self-destruction. - 50
Chicago Reader
A sensationalist grunge festival spiked with dollops of poetry on the sound track. - 50
Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is unconvincing. At the end, Jim is seen going in through a "stage door," and then we hear him telling the story of his descent and recovery. We can't tell if this is supposed to be genuine testimony or a performance. That's the problem with the whole movie. - 50
Christian Science Monitor
The results are more sleazy than insightful.
