They're have been many films made about characters getting involved with drugs and the stories have become familiar so I have to look to see if any of them have a special quality to recommend them. I don't think this film has that special quality but it does present the viewer with a very strong performance by its star. This is the true story about Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is a teenager in New York City and the star of his high school basketball team. He goes to a catholic school but definitely does not behave like a good catholic. He hangs out with his friends Mickey (Mark Wahlberg), Neutron (Patrick McGaw) and Pedro (James Madio) and they like to experiment with popping pills and using inhalants. In his spare time Jim writes in his diary about his everyday events and the people in his life. One night while partying with some rich girls he experiments with cocaine for the first time and it doesn't take long before he is using hardcore drugs on a daily basis. During a game Jim passes out and his coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby) kicks him off the team and he and Mickey quit school. Jim's mother (Lorraine Bracco) can't deal with him in this state and kicks him out of their home so now he is living on the streets with Mickey. They rob stores and steal cars to feed their habit until Jim is passed out in the snow. A friend named Reggie (Ernie Hudson) finds him and takes him back to his apartment where he forces Jim to quit cold turkey. After a rocky ordeal for a few days Jim sneaks out and meets Mickey where they try and score in a park. They get ripped off and chase the dealer to the top of a building and during a scuffle with Mickey he is pushed over the edge where he falls and dies. After getting beaten up by the locals in the neighborhood Mickey is hauled off by the police. Jim heads to his mothers and begs for money but she doesn't give him any and the police later catch up with him there.
This film is directed by Scott Kalvert who is making his debut in feature films and the only thing he had directed before this was the video "The Marky Mark Workout" and at times while watching this film I had the notion that the material may be over his head. At times this film does have a strong visual style but as a director his storytelling is pretty basic. This is your familiar story about someone getting involved with drugs and it doesn't really offer anything that you haven't seen in other films about this subject. A lot of the blame comes from Jim Carroll himself and its because survivors of drug addiction love to think that they have something special to offer the world. Don't get me wrong, its great if he can stop individuals from entering a life of hell but for most of us that sort of information is unnecessary and it certainly doesn't equate into a good film. Kalvert does do one thing correctly that enhances the film, he allows DiCaprio the freedom to submerge himself into this character and the camera at times lingers on his face as he wallows in his grotesque state. Some have said that DiCaprio is miscast but I disagree. DiCaprio with his youthful appearance was certainly believable as a teenager and this is a very strong performance. The scene where he is crying by the front door begging for money from his mother is one that is not quickly forgotten. Juliette Lewis has a small role as the hooker Diane and she is also pretty good. I think they're are much better films dealing with this subject and even though I can't really recommend it I do think that the performance of DiCaprio would be the only reason that curious viewers might want to check it out.
This film is directed by Scott Kalvert who is making his debut in feature films and the only thing he had directed before this was the video "The Marky Mark Workout" and at times while watching this film I had the notion that the material may be over his head. At times this film does have a strong visual style but as a director his storytelling is pretty basic. This is your familiar story about someone getting involved with drugs and it doesn't really offer anything that you haven't seen in other films about this subject. A lot of the blame comes from Jim Carroll himself and its because survivors of drug addiction love to think that they have something special to offer the world. Don't get me wrong, its great if he can stop individuals from entering a life of hell but for most of us that sort of information is unnecessary and it certainly doesn't equate into a good film. Kalvert does do one thing correctly that enhances the film, he allows DiCaprio the freedom to submerge himself into this character and the camera at times lingers on his face as he wallows in his grotesque state. Some have said that DiCaprio is miscast but I disagree. DiCaprio with his youthful appearance was certainly believable as a teenager and this is a very strong performance. The scene where he is crying by the front door begging for money from his mother is one that is not quickly forgotten. Juliette Lewis has a small role as the hooker Diane and she is also pretty good. I think they're are much better films dealing with this subject and even though I can't really recommend it I do think that the performance of DiCaprio would be the only reason that curious viewers might want to check it out.