Review of This Boy's Life (1993) by Stefany B — 12 Aug 2009

8.5/10.

This film is such a great character study. We see a teenager and his mother leaving town to start a new life in a land unfamiliar to them. They don't care where they are or where they're going, as long as they have eachother. Yet, unbeknownst to them, disappointment and heartache lurks ahead.

'This Boy's Life' is based on a true story, and Leonardo DiCaprio captures the teenage angst of Toby Wolff beautifully. We see him transform on screen, from a self-centered child to a man dealing with things he should never have to. We understand him. We identify with him. We know the real Toby in a way that the other characters on screen didn't. For instance, his friends are a protective blanket. With no father figure and an abusive step-father, Toby doesn't know who he truly is. Therefore, he puts on a facade and calls himself 'Jack' and simply wants to belong to something. To someone. It doesn't matter what the consequences are, he just wants to feel alive.

Also, we care for Toby's exhausted and fed-up mother, Caroline (tenderly performed by Ellen Barken) and despise Dwight (another great performance by Robert DeNiro), the wolf in sheep's clothing she marries. There isn't much else to say, besides that all three of these characters are very strong. If I say more, I'll spoil the heartache for you.

But what truly makes this film special, even with the performance of DeNiro which may make viewers want to throw their drinks at the t.v. set, is DiCaprio's performance. He makes you believe every bit of what he is saying, and he provides a soul to his character.

All in all, the message of the film is touching and makes everything you saw on screen worthwhile in the end.