The Basketball Diaries by Lions Gate

"The Basketball Diaries" is based on a book, 17-year-old Jim Carroll wrote decades prior to 1995, the year the film was released. This 2019 restoration by MGM has premium audio and video. The poetry is excerpts from Carroll's 1993 book, "Fear of Dreaming." Jim Carroll wrote and performed his song "Catholic Boy" with Pearl Jam. The Jim Carroll Band's "People Who Died" features Jim and Mickey, aka Dicaprio and Wahlberg playing basketball in the rain as tribute to their deceased friend, and stellar team mate, Bobby, portrayed by Michael Imperioli. The movie is based on Carroll's days of playing basketball for a championship caliber team in the 1960s, while attending a Catholic high school. Leonardo Dicaprio is Carroll in this classic. The harsh realities of addiction, heroin in this case displays its dark demise, and has no boundaries once it takes control of it's users. Carroll use's his skill on the the five on five court and his poetry to deal with tragic loss and addiction. The sound track fits this flick with aplomb and to my surprise Juliette Lewis and Ernie Hudson are not credited on the casing. "The Basketball Diaries" has an all star cast including Lorraine Bracco, Bruno Kirby and Mark Wahlberg, Michael Rapaport and Michael Imperioli. This is definitely an anti drug movie for me. It's R rated vividness of heroin addiction is intense. Anyone craving heroin after viewing this film has issues I want nothing to do with. Despite its bleak themes, "The Basketball Diaries" is the sun shining over a dark cloud with infinite rays of positivity. Watch the movie. Indeed an all star cast, Juliette Lewis was great as Diane with a dark, yet alluring sexuality. Reggie (Ernie Hudson) is the lone friend at the height of Jim's (Dicaprio) addiction. The scene of Reggie and Jim playing one on one basketball is cinematic flare. The pleasant power of sports and creativity are my greatest takes from "The Basketball Diaries." The 11 page picture booklet contains nifty photos and sly words.

Vivid depiction of heroin addiction and impact to family and friends.

This movie remains among the best I have ever seen. Everything about it is as good as it gets. Before it is over you know that every single camera angle, every casting selection, every song used, and every location was somehow, perfect. Yet it doesn't come off as a polished Hollywood high budget film. The story and characters are presented in a believable way that makes your heart bleed even when they screw up, because they are that real. The real Jim becomes irrelevant. There are a million Jims. DiCaprio dug deep for this one, and so did his co-stars. I give a lot of credit to Director Kalvert and can't believe that he is a one-hit-wonder. This movie makes me want more from the man. Two scenes that were most incredible are when Jim's mom chains the door locking him out. Only his arm and face are visible through the gap allowed by the security chain. It doesn't take an addict to feel his pain. And at the same time, Lorraine Bracco is on the other side of the door and you know how bad it hurts her. Both put forth a superb performance throughout the movie, but this is where they shine. One must see it to believe it. The other scene is when DiCaprio, as Jim, is in Reggie's house alone having just come clean the day before. His demons return and the camera work in this short but important scene is magic. DiCaprio remains stationary while the camera spins. Each time the camera pans past him his state of agitation is increased. It was a great way to portray something that could otherwise have been a long drawn out boring sequence. Watch it, you won't be disseminated.

Great movie. Just sad and probably and good m9vie to show kids that kind explain the danger of drugs. Definitely not really kid friendly. Still thiers alot in this movie that might help people. Really wish I would have made my little brother watch before he Overdosed and died.

The case of the movie, the synapses on the back, all the writing except the title is written in an Asian language but the movie itself is in English.

Great movie. This film is not available anywhere online, so I ordered it here and got a dvd player as well since I didn’t have one. It is in English of course but there were also english subtitles on the film, if you like those. Picture was pretty good overall. Leonardo DiCaprio is so talented. 🫶🏼

One of my favorites

This was a great film. Definitely worth a watch...

Klassieker

Alles in Ordnung. Danke für die schnelle Lieferung.

A wonderful performance by Leonardo who makes you feel his emotional pain so intensely. I had never heard of Jim Carroll before I saw this movie. I would recommend this movie for anyone who is a DiCaprio fan. You won't be disappointed. More great cast ; Wahlberg and Bravo. M.Marr.

Great film, no concerns.

Blåst på pengar ! En present som amazon inte vill rätta till Den gick inte att spela upp, tydligen fel region?? Borde vara enkelt att bara byta till rätt region