This Boy’s Life (1993)

Directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, Jonah Blechman, Michael Bacall, Adam Sneller, Sean Murray, Chris Cooper, Eliza Dushku, Zack Ansley, Carla Gugino. [R]

1950s-set coming of age story based on a memoir from writer Tobias Wolff, and featuring a lot of familiar ingredients with closely-observed details that give the tale its freshness and authenticity. In his first big movie role that did not go straight to video, DiCaprio demonstrates both star qualities and acting depth as Toby, the rebellious teen son of impulsive Barkin, whose husband took off with with their other son one day, leaving her to fend for herself and Toby and head west in hopes for a better life. She thinks she’s found it with a rigid dweeb named Dwight (De Niro), but after marrying him for security, he reveals himself to be a domineering, abusive bully. Barkin is as shaky as her frustrating character, depicted as loving and supportive but also willing to turn a blind eye to her new husband’s cruelty for what can only be described as selfish reasons according to the evidence as provided. De Niro, however, is believably unpredictable; not merely a savage brute, but one full of self-loathing and insecurity who exorcises through clenched rage and psychological abuse. Although the perspective has just cause for its limitations (Toby can hardly know and see everything), it’s still a shame we aren’t privy to more information about Dwight’s other kids; additional scenes with Toby’s friends and school life would have also helped paint a richer, more complex portrait. Tobey Maguire appears for a couple of minutes in his first credited film role alongside real-life pal DiCaprio.

71/100