There is no conflict here, just pointless and aimless wandering. It's a downer but, nonetheless, an intriguing DiCaprio performance.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 1, 2022

DiCaprio's early 90s accomplishments have been widely dismissed or ignored ever since Titanic's Jack Dawson become a beloved movie figure amongst parents and their nostalgia-loving kids.

Full Review | Feb 18, 2022

The screenplay could definitely have been better-but it's worth the watch for Leo's performance alone.

Full Review | Jan 7, 2022

For as much as The Basketball Diaries wants to claim that it's a realistic portrayal of addiction, it might have done better to root it in its honest time-and-place and play Carroll's story as straight-forward and as honest as they could.

Full Review | Apr 22, 2020

What almost saves the muddled pic from fouling out is the raw dynamic performance by Leonardo DiCaprio... .

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Jul 1, 2011

Stark tale of teen drug abuse and delinquency.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2011

An uncomfortable experience, to say the least. But also quite rewarding.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Oct 16, 2010

Bleak, depressing independent film making with an incredible performance by Leonardo Di Caprio, The Basketball Diaries shows that, if anything, it is the company you keep that will eventually lead to your downfall.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 7, 2010

It was impossible in The Basketball Diaries not to take notice of DiCaprio's seemingly undauntable talent, as he channeled the tortures of the drug-addicted damned. [Blu-ray]

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 31, 2010

...an intoxicating, frightening and emotionally honest essay on the self-destructive impulses of the nascent artist.

Full Review | Original Score: 87/100 | May 1, 2010

Di Caprio gives a bravura turn that should've won him an Oscar

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 23, 2008

Although the film, like most films that deal with drug issues, has a preachy sincerity and a focus on the woes of drug use it makes for effective, compelling viewing.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2008

For those few soul-freezing moments, you get a glimpse of the great actor Leonardo DiCaprio is going to be.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Mar 24, 2008

If the idea of watching Leonardo DiCaprio pout for 90 minutes gives you sweaty palms, by all means go.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 24, 2008

Significantly, the movie keeps the hero's reformation offscreen as well as unexplained; it's more interested in shock effects than in candor or elucidation.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2008

The angel-faced DiCaprio is a gifted actor, but he lacks the authority and physical presence to keep us with him.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 10, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 29, 2005

You never understand what really motivated this intelligent adolescent, a gifted basketball player and sensitive writer, to descend into the hellish life of a drug addict and hustler on the mean streets of New York.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 15, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Oct 4, 2004