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Created Mar 05, 2011 12:36PM PST • Edited Mar 05, 2011 12:36PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   A dark and disturbing movie, based on a true story, of a high school basketball star whose life spirals downhill after becoming involved in drugs. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jim Carroll, a scrawny kid who is gifted on the court and as a poetry writer. Jim’s social structure is predominated by his friends, including a young Mark Wahlberg, who seek escape from their oppresive private school teacher, pedophile coach, and dreary streets.

   The depressing settings are offset by the beauty of Jim’s poetry, which manages to keep an undercurrent of moral direction as his character slips deeper into a world of crime, apathy, and prostitution to keep his new habit going. We feel as though the poetry in his diarylinks his existence with reality, as if he would lose his way if he were to lose the book it’s written in.

   DiCaprio is brilliant in his portrayal, including the powerful struggle with narcotic withdrawal attempts. He carries the movie forward on a pace that keeps the viewer from abandoning hope in his situation. Ultimately we see him become what he loathes and mocks during the beginning of the film. A transposition that becomes part of his potential recovery.

   Sadly, I felt the movie suffered somewhat because of DiCaprio’s lack of physical size to play his role. While his thespian abilities shone, his athletic prowess was unbelievable.

   Watched on Netflix on demand.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Overall I felt the acting was decent. While I didn’t feel any award winning performances, it was functional.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   DiCaprio did a fine job in acting as the lead role, but again, I think he was not convincing as a basketball player.

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

   Lorraine Bracco contributes a solid performance as his mother who is torn with emotions as her son struggles with his problems. I wish we had more screen time with her in this movie.

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

   Wahlberg does an ok job as Jim’s friend, who helps lead them into trouble. The late Bruno Kirby does a nice job as the coach, Swifty, whose un-welcomed advances give you the creeps.

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction Good 3.0

    Dark and disturbing, the film creates an unclean feeling as Jim progresses deeper into drug despair. The dream sequences are interesting.

12. Play OK 2.5

    The movie seems erratic at times, and was somewhat predictable.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0

    Captures a dark and dreary existence.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 2.9

    Not for kids or those who are easily offended.

17. Sex Titillating 2.3

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

19. Rudeness Nasty 3.7

    Not a happy film by any means, it depicts drug use, crime, and the extreme low points in someones life. Plenty of swear words throughout.

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

    The true story of a young drug addict is offset by his dream sequences.

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0