The Basketball Diaries with Leonardo DiCaprio: DVD Cover

    The Basketball Diaries Director: Scott Kalvert Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jimmy Papiris, Nick Gaetani, Bruno Kirby

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    • DVD Release Date: 10/19/2004
    • Original Release: 1995
    • Rating: Rated R
    • Sales Rank: 9,134

    Viewer Rating: (6 ratings)

    Detailed Rating: "Visuals" See All

     
    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
    • Cast & Crew
    • Full Product Details

    Scenes

    Features

    Closed Caption; Digitally remastered; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound; In English; Wide screen version; Interactive menus; Interviews; SDH (subtitles for the deaf & hard of hearing); Scene index

    Full Product Details

    Scene Index

    Side #1 --
    1. Cutting School [5:52]
    2. This One's for Bobby [5:00]
    3. After the Game [4:22]
    4. 42nd Street [7:14]
    5. One on One With Reggie [2:44]
    6. Harlem River [3:10]
    7. Winky and Blinky [4:10]
    8. Death [5:50]
    9. The Habit [5:48]
    10. Swifty Falls [6:58]
    11. Last Game [3:19]
    12. Out of the House [1:41]
    13. Stealing Cars [4:21]
    14. Rapping With Jim [4:15]
    15. Candy Store [7:18]
    16. Reggie's House [4:38]
    17. Small Salvation [4:42]
    18. Down in the Tubes [3:33]
    19. Last Score With Mickey [4:09]
    20. I Need Some Money [5:23]
    21. Stage Door [7:21]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    Very loosely based on the memoir of the same name, The Basketball Diaries transposes the late '60s adolescence of writer/artist Jim Carroll to some unspecified time period at least 15 years later, further confusing the timeframe with three decades of rock music, some by Carroll himself. Jim (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his Catholic school chums are on the hottest basketball team in New York, but their friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli) languishes in the hospital with leukemia. In-between typically boyish adventures, Jim scribbles in his notebook and experiments with sex and drugs. His group of friends begins to disintegrate after coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby) not only makes a pass at Jim, but also catches him and his pals using drugs on the court and kicks them off the team. Out of school and on the streets, Jim turns tricks, betrays friends, robs stores, and deals drugs to feed his heroin addiction. Not even the efforts of former addict Reggie (Ernie Hudson) can cure Jim. Mark Wahlberg appears as one of Jim's basketball and drug buddies, while Carroll himself makes a memorable cameo as an addict who describes the almost Catholic rituals of shooting heroin. Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

    Early Leo At His Finest...by Gonzo84

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    May 02, 2009: I remember watching this in-depth look into a world of teenagers and drugs after I graduated High School. I'd never seen a film about drug abuse in this matter up to that point. It was a bit of a stunning shocker for myself, I couldn't really even think after the film was over and didn't know what my reaction should be. The story is just too gritty sometimes, where the scenes and the acting are a bit extreme, but that's the whole point. It's one of those true and honest stories about addiction and nothing up to that point in time even came close to capturing such a thing til this film was released. It's to this day, one of Leo's greatest roles. Even though his true real break-out hit came after this with Romeo and Juliet, but I think his earlier work with not only this feature, but also This Boys Life shows that Leo is a force to be reckon with. He's got so much talent. Titanic kind of sunk my appreciation for him, but after that film, he kept releasing very interesting and exciting films. It's not often that you come across a Teen-Idol who drew more press for his looks than his acting that was so unappreciated and under-rated. He was one of those rare child actors who took on tough roles and continues to do so to this day, but this film really shows DiCaprio's limits as an actor and at such a young age, he really gives it his all. The story is something for everybody to watch at least once, but watch with caution. I didn't know it was about drug addiction, I just knew it was one of the most controversial films to come out, especially after the Columbine Shootings. Even though that there have been countless films after this feature that have come out throughout the years, some brilliant, some just pointless, but none the less, if I ever wanted to show somebody a dipiction of what a real true-to-life addiction is like and scare the piss out of them, this would be the film.

    I Also Recommend: Kids, Factory Girl, Candy, This Boy's Life.

    A reviewerby Anonymous

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    May 27, 2007: This film should be shown to all teenagers. I am 16 and i watched this movie about a week ago and my complete view of drugs and alchol have changed. I think that that movie can save and help people. All should watch.


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