This Boy's Life

This Boy’s Life

• Director: Michael Caton-Jones
• Based on the book by Tobias Wolff
• Cast: Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, Chris Cooper, Jonah Blechman, Eliza Dushku, and a glimpse of Tobey Maguire
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Leonard Di Caprio – The Great Gatsby, Inception, Shutter Island, Blood Diamond, The Aviator, Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, Beach, Titanic, Marvin’s Room, Romeo & Juliet, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
• Robert Di Niro – Joy, Stardust, Extras, Flawless, Cop Land, Marvin’s Room, Heat, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Awakenings, Stanley and Iris, Brazil, New York New York, The Deerhunter, Taxi Driver, 1900, Hi Mom, probably others
• Ellen Barkin – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sea of Love, Down by Law, Eddie and the Cruisers, Daniel
• Chris Cooper – The Tempest, Remember Me, The Bourne Identity, October Sky, Great Expectations, Matewan
• Eliza Dushku – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Tobey Maguire – The Great Gatsby, Spiderman, Cider House Rules, Pleasantville, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Ice Storm
• Why? Good the first time
• Seen: Once before. Now 1 June 2019      

1957. DiCaprio (playing Toby, later Jack) is about twelve. He and his mother Caroline (Barkin) are driving cross country fleeing her abusive boyfriend (Cooper), who catches up to them so they flee again, this time to Seattle. Toby becomes a foul-mouth, strutting, smoking Elvis wannabe, hanging out with other tough guy kids.

       Enter Dwight (De Niro), charming new boyfriend. Toby, now Jack, hates him on sight. He gets into more trouble and Caroline sends him to Dwight’s place in the north woods. If they get along she might marry Dwight.

       The nightmare begins. Charming Dwight is a vicious, violent, sadistic tyrant, determined to break Jack’s spirit and make a man out of him.

       Dwight and Caroline get married. And so it goes.

       Grim, painful and well-acted by all, it’s still strong. But it’s too grim for a full score and good acting notwithstanding, I’m always aware that it’s Di Caprio, De Nero and Barkin doing a good acting job.

3* of 5