IMDb > The Basketball Diaries (1995)
The Basketball Diaries
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The Basketball Diaries (1995) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   22,826 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Jim Carroll (based on the novel by)
Bryan Goluboff (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Basketball Diaries on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 April 1995 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The true story of the death of innocence and the birth of an artist more
Plot:
Film adaptation of street tough Jim Carroll's epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
St. Vitus' Dance more (128 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Leonardo DiCaprio ... Jim Carroll

Lorraine Bracco ... Jim's Mother
Marilyn Sokol ... Chanting Woman

James Madio ... Pedro
Patrick McGaw ... Neutron

Mark Wahlberg ... Mickey
Roy Cooper ... Father McNulty

Vincent Pastore ... Construction Worker (as Vinnie Pastore)

Bruno Kirby ... Swifty
Jimmy Papiris ... Iggy
Nick Gaetani ... Referee #1

Alexander Chaplin ... Bobo (as Alexander Gaberman)
Ben Jorgensen ... Tommy
Josh Mostel ... Counterman

Juliette Lewis ... Diane Moody
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Streets of New York (International: English title) (video title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for graphic depiction of drug addiction with related strong violence,sexuality and language.
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:MA (cable rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 (video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:14A (DVD rating) | Australia:R | Germany:12 (bw) | Norway:15 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (NO. 33624) | Iceland:16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Stephen Lang was offered the role of Jim's Basketball Coach named Swifty in the script. Lang declined citing the misrepresentation of the book in the script. The part was subsequently toned down as a result. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When the cops enter the ice cream store they are not wearing 1960s police uniforms. They are actually exactly like the 1990s uniforms - when the movie is made. more
Quotes:
Jim: ...did I ever tell you about the first time I did heroin? more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Butterfly Effect (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Watusi Latin Boogaloo more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 20 people found the following comment useful.
St. Vitus' Dance, 26 June 2004
7/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

There is a type of disease associated with St. Vitus and this film qualifies in the comparison because it's quirky, fast, and it never stops moving. Director Scott Kalvert gives the movie a 'look' that makes the Manhattan of the period when it supposedly takes place, believable.

Leonardo DiCaprio was at his best in the film. His performance is very nuanced and in your face, at the same time. Mr. DiCaprio makes you feel the pain Jim is going through; he is a lost soul. Not being a fan of Mark Wahlberg, I must confess that in this film, be it because of the direction, or whatever, he shines, as Mickey.

As Jim's mother, Lorraine Bracco has never been better in anything she has been in recent memory. Bruno Kirby is perfectly creepy as the coach of St. Vitus High School.

As far as the connection with the Columbine School massacre, since the sequence where Jim is involved is a dream, it's easy to understand how the twisted minds of the ones responsible for the killings would have taken this scene as a model for their terrible crime.

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more (128 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
First watched this at 14 years old, however don't approve LizPhoenixNikita
Wonder wot happened to Pedro meakins8
Would people pay to 'give' someone a blowjob? Mcice88
my humble opinion crazynocrazy
Ivory Snow baby? nina_beretta
AWESOME AWESOME BOOK nina_beretta
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