Review of The Basketball Diaries (1995) by Steven C — 18 Jul 2010
"The Basketball Diaries" is an effective film about drug addiction but it's practically undone by incoherent editing and pacing and Mark Whalberg's embarrassing performance. What makes the film worthwhile though is the stunning turn from Leonardo DiCaprio.
It is one of the most convincing portrayals of heroin addiction I have ever seen committed to film. The film is obviously against drugs, and it's message is almost annoying for 3/4 of the runtime, but it's in the final scenes of the film where you see that it's message and heart were in the right place.
"The Basketball Diaries" may be poorly constructed, but it's in Leo's performance, the vivid cinematography and the effective message that make the film passable.
This review of The Basketball Diaries (1995) was written by Steven C on 18 Jul 2010.
The Basketball Diaries has generally received positive reviews.
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