Review of The Basketball Diaries (1995) by Jack S — 18 Oct 2008

I incorrectly guessed that the Sopranos casting director worked on this, because Big Pussy, Dr. Melfi, and "Christuphuh" all show up. I wanted this movie to be great, because I am a fan of Jim Carroll.

For a while it was merely OK--sort of an after-school special feel. ("Desperate Lives," anyone?) But DiCaprio gives a remarkable performance, and the movie gets better the deeper his character sinks.

Young Wahlberg is solid (interestingly enough, he leaves a room moments before someone says hi to their mother), and the black Ghostbuster provides one of the most touching sequences. Wasn't sure why they set it in the modern day, but it didn't really hurt the film.

What else? Bonus points for a scene with Leo and Marky Mark in Hoboken's own Schnackenberg's Luncheonette.