Search - The Basketball Diaries on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Substance Abuse Movie Release: 1995 DVD Release: 06/30/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 42 mins Studio: Palm Pictures Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Drama, Biopic [feature], Addiction Drama, Coming-of-Age

Very loosely based on the memoir of the same name, The Basketball Diaries transposes the late '60s adolescence of writer/artist Jim Carroll to some unspecified time period at least 15 years later, further confusing the timeframe with three decades of rock music, some by Carroll himself. Jim (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his Catholic school chums are on the hottest basketball team in New York, but their friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli) languishes in the hospital with leukemia. In-between typically boyish adventures, Jim scribbles in his notebook and experiments with sex and drugs. His group of friends begins to disintegrate after coach Swifty (Bruno Kirby) not only makes a pass at Jim, but also catches him and his pals using drugs on the court and kicks them off the team. Out of school and on the streets, Jim turns tricks, betrays friends, robs stores, and deals drugs to feed his heroin addiction. Not even the efforts of former addict Reggie (Ernie Hudson) can cure Jim. Mark Wahlberg appears as one of Jim's basketball and drug buddies, while Carroll himself makes a memorable cameo as an addict who describes the almost Catholic rituals of shooting heroin. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Leonardo DiCaprio - Jim Carroll
Jimmy Papiris - Iggy
Bruno Kirby - Swifty
Nick Gaetani - Referee
Lorraine Bracco - Jim's Mother
Alexander Gaberman - Bobo
Ben Jorgensen - Tommy
Ernie Hudson - Reggie Porter
Patrick McGaw - Neutron
Akiko Ashley - Stripper

This coming-of-age film based on the true story of writer Jim Carroll is available as a widescreen DVD from Palm Pictures. This is an excellent transfer, with clean visuals and a crystal clear Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. Although the disc lacks the original theatrical trailer, television spots are included as a bonus. Previews of other films from Palm Pictures and Manga Entertainment are included as well. Interviews with the cast and crew provide insight into the making of the film, although their comments are at times a bit short. Leonardo Di Caprio has a couple of interesting comments, mostly reflecting on his portrayal of the real life Carroll. An anti-drug trailer is included with the DVD, as are subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. ~ Michael Zerbo, All Movie Guide