On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 47% based on 43 reviews and with an average rating of 5.3/10. The websites critical consensus states "In spite of its young leading man's heroic efforts to hold it all together, a muddled message prevents The Basketball Diaries from compelling as a cautionary tale." Metacritic gave the movie a score of 46 based in 19 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
The Basketball Diaries
(1995)5
" The true story of the death of innocence and the birth of an artist"
| Country | |
| Runtime | 1 hr 42 min |
| Budget | $2 000 000 |
| Premiere: World | $2 402 438 September 14, 1995 |
| USA | $2 381 087 |
| Other countries | $21 351 |
| Box Office – Budget | $402 438 |
| Premiere: USA | $2 381 087 January 27, 1995 |
| theaters | 318 |
| rollout | 255 days |
| Digital: World | August 1, 2007 |
| Parental Advisory | Frightening & Intense Scenes, Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking, Profanity, ... |
| |
| Production Companies | |
Description
A teenager finds his dreams of becoming a basketball star threatened after he free falls into the harrowing world of drug addiction.Сast and Crew
Director
Camera
Writer
Author
Composer
Videos Stills Posters Filming Promo Screenshots Covers
About the Book
The Basketball Diaries is a memoir written by Jim Carroll. The book is a collection of diary entries that Carroll wrote between the ages of 12 and 16, chronicling his life as a promising high school basketball player and his descent into drug addiction.Author: Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll was an American author, poet, and punk musician. He is best known for his autobiographical work, The Basketball Diaries, which provides a raw and unflinching look at his teenage years in New York City. Carroll's writing is noted for its vivid imagery and candid portrayal of his struggles with addiction.Book vs. Film
The film adaptation of The Basketball Diaries takes some creative liberties with the source material. While the book is a series of diary entries that offer a personal and introspective look at Carroll's life, the film presents a more dramatized narrative. The essence of Carroll's experiences and the themes of addiction and youth are retained, but the film introduces fictional elements and characters to enhance the storytelling.- The book is a true account of Jim Carroll's teenage years, while the film adds fictionalized events for dramatic effect.
- The film captures the spirit of the book but does not strictly adhere to the chronological order or all the events described in the diaries.
Jim Carroll's Life and Memoir
Jim Carroll was a poet, author, and musician whose life story served as the basis for the film "The Basketball Diaries." Born in 1949 in New York City, Carroll grew up in a tough neighborhood and attended Catholic school. His experiences as a teenager, particularly his struggles with drug addiction, were chronicled in his autobiographical work, The Basketball Diaries, published in 1978.
The Memoir
- Adolescence and Basketball: Carroll was a promising basketball player during his high school years. His talent on the court was overshadowed by his growing addiction to heroin, which he began using at the age of 13.
- Drug Addiction: The memoir details Carroll's descent into drug addiction, his experiences with crime, and the impact it had on his life and relationships. It provides a raw and unfiltered look at the challenges he faced as a young addict.
- Writing and Recovery: Despite his struggles, Carroll found solace in writing. His work as a poet and author helped him navigate his addiction and eventually led to his recovery.
Film vs. Reality
The film adaptation of The Basketball Diaries takes some creative liberties with Carroll's story. While it captures the essence of his struggles with addiction and his passion for basketball, certain events and characters are fictionalized or exaggerated for dramatic effect. The film focuses heavily on the themes of addiction and redemption, staying true to the core message of Carroll's memoir.
Reception
Sign up and you will see here
friends impressions of the movie.
Friends comments and ratings
A powerful film about the fight against drugs and survival in the street environment. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an excellent performance as a young basketball player whose life changes dramatically due to drugs. The film makes you think and touches your heartstrings.
it’s been a long time since i’ve seen a movie that would cause me so much disgust and negative emotions like this, the whole movie is on pins and neeeedles
At one time I walked on very thin ice and probably would have become a drug addict too, if not for a good head on my shoulders, which not everyone has. The film can be safely added to the curriculum so that there is less of "this" in real life. It’s better to watch this from a movie theater monitor.
Drugs are evil – always remember this. Even if at some point you begin to doubt it. The film is about how a boy from a Catholic school descends into crime in the name of a dose. The film shows what can push one to fall into a moral abyss. Frankness as a style.
Cool film indeed, you can see the old school of young Dee. Drugs are bad, okay? And heroin is generally so unchildish. After what I saw, I would not want to connect my life with substances in any way, because no matter how you look at it, life will be ruined. #Sobriety
Add a short review
280 characters