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Product Details
Synopsis: Based on the autobiographical journals of poet Jim Carroll, "Basketball Diaries" follows the descent of a Catholic high school student from star basketball player to drug addict. Jim and his friends roam the streets of New York City as goof-offs, petty thieves, and junkies. Expelled from school for using drugs before a game, Jim is also thrown out of his house and takes up street hustling. A pre-superstardom DiCaprio gives a strong performance in this gritty and uncompromising look at being young and streetwise.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Braco
Directed by: Scott Kalvert
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Sport
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes
Studio: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: Rated R for graphic depiction of drug addiction with related strong violence,sexuality and language.
ASIN: B001GPNXRA
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 48 hour viewing period Details
Compatible with: Mac and Windows PC online viewing, compatible instant streaming devices, TiVo DVRs. System requirements
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)
Also available on DVD

The Basketball Diaries DVD ~ Leonardo DiCaprio

4.3 out of 5 stars (128) $8.99
Theatrical Release Information
  • MPAA: Rated R for graphic depiction of drug addiction with related strong violence,sexuality and language.
  • Production Company: New Line Cinema, Island Pictures
  • Filming Locations: Forest Hills High School, Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA | New York City, New York, USA
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Customer Reviews

128 Reviews
5 star:
 (83)
4 star:
 (21)
3 star:
 (9)
2 star:
 (7)
1 star:
 (8)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (128 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hardhitting Film Based on a True Life Story, January 31, 2000
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Basketball Diaries [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Director Scott Kalvert creates a moving and realistic recount of the true story of Jim Carroll, played superbly by Leonardo DiCaprio, a New York City teen who at the height of his high school basketball career, falls victim to drugs and violence in the rough streets.

Look for the real-life Jim Carroll who makes a cameo appearance as a crack addict in the scene where young Jim sitting in a back alley listening to the addict preach about his "high" while boiling his fix.

Fine supporting performances by the entire cast and a musical score including original songs performed by Jim Carroll's band. Especially memorable is the acid-rock message song: "These Are All the People Who've Died" which is a tribute to Jim's fallen friends throughout his life.

The serious messages in this film SCREAM out at teens, but also are sombering to adults who realize the sometimes hopeless devastation that wracks a family during a drug crisis. Your heart breaks for Jim's mom and his mentor, an African American ex-druggie who cleaned up and wants nothing more than to help Jim out of his living hell before it consumes him.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best actor!, June 12, 2007
This review is from: The Basketball Diaries (DVD)
This movie is amazing, the talented Mr. Dicaprio really gave an outstanding performance
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A gritty, realistic film with wonderful acting performances., March 23, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Basketball Diaries [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"The Basketball Diaries" is a gritty, uncompromising look at a basically good guy's decent into heroin hell. The cast, headed by Leonardo DiCaprio, is superb; the screenplay doesn't pull any punches. Realistic, shocking, eye-opening, the film gives DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg the chance to display their true talents and really ACT -- these fellows do a terrific job because it all looks so REAL. What a great film with an ending I guarantee you won't expect -- connoisseurs of fine films and DiCaprio fans should check it out -- this is a real movie with a real script and real acting, and the characters and storyline aren't larger than life. They're real as life, and that's not something you see on TV every day. END
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