User reviews

A highly disturbing film about the violent relationship between a disturbed man, and his adolescent step-son. Remarkable performances from Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio. The desperation and hatred is clearly conveyed by both of them; to the point that it's downright scary.

Deniro's character is so seemingly normal, and yet so menacing and terrifying. Another remarkable acting performance from him.

The taunting of the step-son, and the violent confrontations between the two are ugly, yet mesmerizing. You feel the claustrophobic feeling the boy must have had living in this small town, trapped into this relationship. Some of this is very tough to watch.

This was an excellent tale of what some people's lives are really like. The acting was flawless, the story rang true, and the dialogue was some of the best ever. Barkin was perfect as the man crazy, brainless mother, and De Niro captured the role of a bullying, phoney drunk completely. Men do indeed act like this every day, and women allow them to. Don't miss this one.

What is best about "This Boy's Life" is the acting. Don't get me wrong, though, the film in itself is also good; it's rather disturbing when you think about the fact that it is based upon a true story. But the acting… 1993 must be Leonardo DiCaprio's best year as an actor yet, his portrayal of Toby in this film is very good, and he was absolutely sensational in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?". Robert De Niro is also very good in the film, he manages to bring forward the brutal side of his character while he also lets the audience know that Dwight is a very childish man. Ellen Barkin is also good. And it was fun to see Tobey Maguire in an early role as Toby's friend -- I didn't even now that he was supposed to be in the film until there he was! Good film with really impressive acting by the three leads. (6/10)

This was a very haunting, sometimes very difficult story to watch unfold on screen. It was one of the first films I recollect seeing when I went berserk collecting tons of VHS tapes in the mid-90s. I had never heard of Leonardo DiCaprio, but I'm just I wasn't alone as this was his second or third time on screen. Anyway, he certainly gave a powerful performance and served notice he was going to be a "big name" actor.

Basically, it's about teenage kid and his mom trying to survive the mean father-husband of the family in a small town during the 1950s. Robert De Niro plays the dad and Ellen Barkin, the mom. This may be the only film I've seen in which Barkin actually played the nicest person of the leads!! Leo plays "Tobias Wolffe;" De Niro, "Dwight Hansen" and Barkin, "Caroline Hansen." She had remarried Hansen after having "Toby" earlier, hence the surname "Wolffe."

What made this story tough for me was that, to be honest, neither father nor son were nice guys, although De Niro's character was far worse. The struggles - and that's putting it tactfully - between father and son were really nasty. Yet, as unpleasant at is, the story is memorable and it haunted me for several days, especially since it is "based" on a true story. How much of this was true, I can't say, but it is a dramatic story you will not dismiss. However, watching dysfunctional families and hearing a lot of verbal abuse is not fun, so be warned.

I heard of this movie before, but I had no knowledge of what it was about, and basically rented it because it looked good and Robert DeNiro is the star--my Number One favorite actor.

Well, DeNiro's performance is one of the high points of the film, and he is extraordinary as the abusive father who seems pleasant and jovial at times, but can turn violent when you push his buttons. Leonardo DiCaprio is also great, in one of the best performances of his career. Over the years, he's been gaining a reputation as a glamour guy. And that he is, but you must see his performance in this movie before regarding him as "just another pretty face." He was still in his early teens (I'm guessing) when he made this film, so this was a long time before he hit it big with "Titanic." Ellen Barkin is also good, but I wish her character could've been developed a little more. I kept wondering, during the course of the film, why she felt like withstanding Dwight's abuse for such a long period of time. In the beginning of the film, she's established as a free spirit--the kind of woman that romances a man, then drives off to another state to find her next man. Well, why didn't she do the same thing with this jerk? The film is based on a true story, so I'm sure she really did stay with him that long, but I just wanted to know her motives.

"This Boy's Life" is a solid, beautifully made slice-of-life that kept me glued to the screen from start to finish. The climax is an emotional powerhouse that made me want to stand up and cheer. Please check out this underrated masterpiece!

My score: 9 (out of 10)

Pretty decent coming of age drama with a very young Leonardo DiCaprio pitted against an abusive stepfather played by Robert De Niro. The latter really hams it up in a performance that kind of works, but kind of feels a bit cartoony at times.

Also working against the film is the way it gets a little schmaltzy at times, but that's contrasted with a few quite confronting scenes, and some harsh truths about the tedium of living in a place you can't get out of, even if you want to.

DiCaprio is really good considering his age, and I mostly liked the look of the film and its soundtrack. It's also cool to see a movie starring both of Martin Scorsese's favourite lead actors, and I look forward to seeing them both in Scorsese's own Killers of the Flower Moon, whenever that gets released.

Writer Tobias Wolff's autobiographical tale provided a young Leonardo DiCaprio with an early acting triumph, here cast as the son of Ellen Barkin, a sexy single mom in the 1950s who becomes romantically involved with unpredictable live-wire Robert De Niro. With an adaptation by talented screenwriter Robert Getchell, the film is gripping and real despite a lack of insight into the characters, De Niro's in particular (he's simply a creep with no rationale, and why Barkin gives up her freedom to marry him is never made clear). Despite these faults, the performances are strong (if showy), and DiCaprio more than holds his own opposite the veteran grown-ups. Some moving scenes. **1/2 from ****

I read the book so many times. Even knew there was a movie about it I had read and re read the book. I loved Tobias Wolff's writing. I think a major reason I didn't like it was because the book had so much to offer. It felt as though there wasn't enough depth in the movie. The movie was good no doubt. I am not a fan of Leonardo Di caprio. However, he did do a good job in this movie. I could think of no one better who could play the role of father as well as Robert De Niro did... Overall it was good and I wouldn't mind watching it again. Though I would prefer reading it again a lot more. Which is a lot for me to say because I do prefer movies a lot more than books. (sorry)

This Boy's Life was the break out role for Leonardo DiCaprio who proved what a great talent he was in this coming of age film. He had to be to hold his own with Robert DeNiro. DeNiro with his great ear for voices and accents perfectly captures the role of stepfather Dwight Hansen, a man with a terrible inferiority complex who takes it out on his stepson.

The film is based on the memoirs of writer Tobias Wolff as he and his mother endured five years of hell with this very provincial man who is trapped in the small town mentality of Concrete, Washington during the 1950s. The title quote is from DeNiro who repeats that line many times during the film. In fact that's all he does is talk in clichés and it's made abundantly clear that his level of ignorance about the outside world is frightening.

That puts him in contrast with stepson DiCaprio who's a bright kid and capable of going places with some guidance. DeNiro isn't about to provide that guidance, he's just plain jealous of him.

In fact This Boy's Life is similar in that respect to the Tom Cruise film All the Right Moves where Cruise is also trying to escape the drab life he sees in his small Pennsylvania mining town through athletics and meets with jealousy from many around him, but not in his own family circle.

This Boy's Life should be required viewing on the effects of homophobia. In addition to the principal players, DeNiro, DiCaprio, and Ellen Barkin as DiCaprio's mother, credit should go to Jonah Blechman who played gay teen Arthur Gayle. He's got a real lonely existence in Concrete, Washington. Arthur's story is still unfortunately being acted out today in thousands of small town throughout the USA. He gravitates to DiCaprio, not just sexually, but because he recognizes a kindred spirit there.

Among other things DeNiro encourages is homophobia as homosexuality is one of many things he's ignorant about and prefers to remain so. It's quite a scene in which DeNiro encourages DiCaprio to beat up Arthur on any and all occasions.

In fact that's ultimately Dwight's problem. It's maybe ONLY two things that he knows anything about and can converse intelligently on. And he's living in a town full of other Dwights as ignorant as he is.

This is one of the best films of the last decade of the last century and should not be missed.

(pros)-Acting is suburb by deniro and leo -it is True story so it makes the movie and the violence tense -Directing is interesting

(cons)-Script is weak and left a lot of stuff in the book -exaggerating de niro character that he looks like a monster -only focusing in this part of the story it could have been more epic

The title got it right. This is Leonardo's movie through and through. You can't wait for him to get away from his ineffectual Mother and his Stepfather. Not many young actors could hold their own with DeNiro, but Leonardo succeeds beautifully. See this movie if you still have any doubts about his acting ability; for once, the 12-year-old girls got it right by anointing him the actor of this generation.

Although I didn't live there during the time the movie was made I did venture up one afternoon to see what the town looked like as a movie set. Remarkably, the town looked much like I remembered from my childhood in the 60's and it was a nice journey back in time. While living in Arizona ('92-2001) I would frequently watch the movie when I was homesick; I enjoyed seeing my old town, my old schools & the surrounding scenic shots. I am now living back in Concrete and sadly, the town has wasted away to nothing; but with This Boy's Life I can go back for an hour or so to when it was a really great place to live and grow-up. The real-life Dwight has since died (everyone who knew him says he was just like book and movie portrayed him) and his real kids dispute the fact that he was an abusive father. Tobias Wolff is, of course, now a well-known writer but remembered as a nice, fun-loving kid who did pretty well weathering the constant stress at home while growing up. A number of Concrete residents still resent the portrayal of our town as a back-woods redneck community that harbors child-abusers.

Unfortunately, the truth hurts & that description pretty much sums up our little spot on the map. But we do have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, lots of fresh air and no gangs so I guess we are better off than a lot of urban environments. Leo DiCaprio did a great job in his role. Ellen Barkin was memorable but I had a hard time feeling much empathy for her character. DiNiro was - well...DiNiro. Every role he touches becomes gold and this one will shine for a long time. This movie was highly underrated in my opinion (and not just because I was biased) and should have gotten more notice after it's release. You can still see it on the pay channels, occasionally on cable networks and of course, video & DVD. The sets, clothing, and music really do justice to the time. See it and you will never forget it! ***small tidbit: on my trip up to Concrete to visit the set I was happened upon DiNiro, DiCaprio & Barkin filming the scene where they were driving for the first time into Concrete. The local sheriff had closed off the highway until the scene was completed but because I knew the area and side rural roads I sneaked up to a spot where I could videotape the car with the three inside going down the highway. I DID get decent video of DiNiro "driving" the car and was thrilled!

Some childhoods are more eventful than others. Tobias Wolf, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, had a very eventful childhood due to a stepfather named Dwight (Robert De Niro).

Dwight was a first class ass****. He was a small time mechanic in the small town of Concrete, Washington and it seems he resented every moment of it. He was so bitter and it seemed that he would release his vile bitterness on Tobias whenever possible. The most natural question is: why didn't Tobias's mom just leave Dwight? It's a valid question. She was young and attractive.

Perhaps because it was 1960 and that's not what women did. Or maybe it was like she said: "I have no more get up and go in me." Or maybe it's another unknown reason that can only be understood by the plethora of women who've been in abusive relationships and began the hashtag #whyistayed. Whatever the reason, Tobias absorbed the full weight of her decision.

The movie itself was decent enough. De Niro's character was reminiscent of his Max Cady character in "Cape Fear." He was more than a little nuts and Concrete, Washington was worse for it.

I liked this film. I was able to relate not only to the young boy, Tobias Wolff, but also the stepfather Dwight. This film brought back memories of myself growing up when I was that age, as well as memories of being an errant father myself raising a son.

After viewing the movie twice, I checked out the book at the library and read it.

I feel that the film followed the storyline of the book quite well. Robert DeNiro did a superb job of protraying Dwight, as did Leonardo DiCaprio protraying Jack.

I recommend viewing this film by anyone who is raising a teenage son, so as to give some insight to the pitfalls that adolescence will challenge a father. Don't wait until after you have already raised your son, as then it is too late to benefit from the knowledge you will gain from this excellent story.

As far as biopics go, this movie really isn't the most interesting one around. I mean, who is Tobias Wolff to deserve a picture being made about his life. The things he went through during his youth really aren't the toughest and he also hasn't really accomplished anything in life to consider him deserving of such a biopic. He basically is an average Joe, from Hometown USA. It doesn't mean that this is a bad movie, it just is a bit of a redundant one you can easily do without.

Sure, the movie has a nice story, that is a real typical drama one, without feeling not ever real or convincing enough. It's a good thing that the movie doesn't ever really go over-the-top with its emotions and drama, which is of course also thanks to the movie its actors.

The movie has a real surprising cast, with already established names such as Robert De Niro, Chris Cooper and Ellen Barkin in it. It however also stars some at the time still young and raising stars. The movie stars a young Leonardo DiCaprio, even before he did "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", which became his real first big breakthrough. All of the actors are powerful within their roles and also real surprising at times. We for instance don't to often see De Niro like this. The movie also stars a still young and also very unknown Tobey Maguire, in a real small part though but it was fun to notice him.

The cast is also being directed well. Sort of too bad that director Michael Caton-Jones doesn't make more drama's, since this is obviously were the most of his talent lays. Instead he more often works on overblown big pictures, like "The Jackal" and "Basic Instinct 2". Also his "Rob Roy" was far from the picture that it could had turned out to be.

"This Boy's Life" is simply a good movie but I just wouldn't exactly call it a must-see or anything like that.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

This MIchael-Caton Jones powerful true story Drama gives us a young faced Leonardo DiCaprio starring as 16 year old Tobias Woolf, a troubled young man who is shown by DeNiro that life can be a hard mistress. I thought this film was absolutely brilliant! I really got the impact of this movie, with De Niro being my number 1 favourite actor of all time, and Leonardo being number 2. Every time De Niro is on screen he always creates tension and hatred for his character of Dwight. And always makes you feel sorry for Di Caprio which he also plays brilliantly. With Ellen Barkin caught up in the middle of it all, the film tells us the story of Di Caprio's character Toby Woolf and his trouble with his mums boyfriend (De Niro) with this film being made in 1993, this is when De Niro was at the top of his game as an Actor, and you would think makes it harder for Di Caprio to compete with on screen, but it doesn't. Leonardo competes perfectly within his character, and is just as memorable as De Niro throughout the film, and is somewhat even better on screen, seeing the actor that he has become today. This boy's life is truly a phenomenal masterpiece and is moving at the same time.

I honestly thought it would be worse, what the father figure would do to him. De Niro and Leo were great as always and that was about it. I've seen worse, this one kept me curious although I've seen many things coming. New school and old school meet and what a beautiful image was created. I hope to see them again in the same scenes.

This Boys Life A Review by Ashley "I SEE YOUR SPOTS LEOPARD!"

If I were to explain to you what this movie is actually about it would really put you off. It could make you not even want to see the movie. That being said, this movie is a total gem!

It was a boring, hot, sunny afternoon and there was absolutely nothing to watch on television. I was literally flipping through channels when somewhere along the line I decided that a slow paced, uncomfortable, movie about child abuse on Showcase would do. I soon realized that the child being abused was Leonardo DiCaprio and the person doing the abusing was none other than Robert De Niro.

This movie is pretty much non- stop action, and by action I mean child abuse. If you hate Robert De Niro this may not be a good movie for you to watch because it will make you hate him even more. This Boy's Life is an incredibly thorough movie; all the main groups of abuse are represented: emotional, physical, psychological and even financial abuses are present throughout. One of the best scenes is when Robert De Niro crams an old mustard jar into Leonardo DiCaprio's eye to teach him a lesson about wasting condiments.

This movie has it all, sad drunk driving, awkward gay teens and a bulldog!

The sad fact is this movie is actually based on a true story. But, I prefer to forget that and just enjoy the ride.

To me, 'This Boy's Life' is like a metaphorical passing of the torch from one legendary superstar(De Niro) to the next up and coming face of Hollywood(Leo). You see both actors' range and brilliance in this film as De Niro plays a disturbingly abusive, alcoholic step father to the troubled DiCaprio. Worth the watch just to see a young Leo's potential and a decent story of disgruntled family life.

A few years ago, when it was cool to hate "Titanic," I picked mercilessly on Leonardo DiCaprio (as all males at the time did). I criticized his performances in every film I saw, mainly "Titanic." Even though I liked the film, if you were a guy and admitted to enjoying it, you were automatically labeled gay.

Over the years I found new respect for DiCaprio as an actor. After I saw him in "Catch Me If You Can" I realized he had a great deal of natural talent and was striving to abandon his "pretty boy" roots. Then I saw "Gangs of New York" and felt he was strangely miscast.

Going back to "This Boy's Life," we catch an early glimpse of DiCaprio and one of his finest performances to date. He is totally convincing in this film, set in the 1950s, based on a true story.

Unfortunately the rest of the movie is not so lucky. The typically reliable Robert De Niro delivers one of his worst performances ever as a crazy kook from Seattle named Dwight, who falls for Toby's (DiCaprio) mother, Caroline, played by Ellen Barkin.

I applaud De Niro's recent ventures into comedy and disagree with the critics who claim he has "sold out." But his performance in "This Boy's Life" is simply unacceptable. It starts out fine enough, and his Seattle accent is impressive. But as the film progresses, he turns into a strange comical character; he is supposed to be scary and intimidating, but he is neither.

I feel the greatest flaw of this film centers around De Niro's character and performance. First of all, Toby (Leo) acts like a jerk. We don't find much sympathy for him. When he falls into the hands of Dwight, we eventually feel a bit of sympathy, but because Dwight never seems very cruel or scary, it's hard even then.

There have been some very good child abuse movies made in the past. "Radio Flyer" was not a great movie by any means, but by portraying child abuse through the eyes of a child and portraying the guilty as a truly cruel human being, it succeeded and made us feel for the boys.

"This Boy's Life" doesn't work because it's a bit too sarcastic, knowing and self-assured. De Niro is not scary. In fact, many times I agreed with his character. He rarely abused Toby (in the film, anyway) and at many times, even though he was drunk, offered good advice.

And the scenes such as the one in which he steals Toby's boy scout outfit aren't upsetting. They're humorous. It's hard to find fear and sympathy for a boy when we're laughing at his plights.

The ending was the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. Throughout De Niro had managed to retain some level of dignity and realism, but at the end he just let loose and turned into a screaming, howling, crybaby of a man: obsessive, paranoid and crazy. And he's still not scary, because he's so pathetic that we're laughing at him. And by then, the accent has become so corny, and the dialogue and happy-face gestures so hysterical, that the film totally negates whatever its point was and becomes a half-hearted bittersweet comedy with a great performance by Leonardo DiCaprio and unimpressive elements elsewhere.

Overall, "This Boy's Life" is a mixed bag of a film that doesn't know whether to find sympathy for Tobias Wolff or humor in his situations. If you're a fan of the actors, give it a go; otherwise, I recommend "Radio Flyer."