Simply Perfect

Good movie but grossly overrated

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

What a great little actor Leonardo was as a teen! When desperation leads to settling for less than you deserve, controlling behaviour makes for a miserable existence. As for De Niro, he looks and sounds the same in many of his roles and still manages to pull off unique characters.

Moving adaptation of Tobias Wolff's memoir. Leonardo DiCaprio, in the same year he became a break-out star for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, stars as Wolff, a teenager who moves all around the country with his mother (Ellen Barkin). They finally settle down in Concrete, Washington when Barkin falls for a mechanic (Robert De Niro). After the two marry, De Niro quickly reveals his true colors: he's a petulant, petty jerk. In particular, he treats DiCaprio like total crap. He has three kids of his own (including a young Carla Gugino and Eliza Dushku), and he treats them well enough, but he feels jealous of DiCaprio. He's severely emotionally abusive toward him and even physically so when pushed. DiCaprio, who isn't exactly a good kid, gets his life straighter, seemingly just to spite his stepfather. DiCaprio was quite good in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, but, for my money, his talent shines through here much more in a less showy role. I think most people have known a guy just like De Niro's character, and he's very good here. Barkin is also quite good. Jonah Blechman is also very good as DiCaprio's gay buddy. Tobey Maguire appears in his first credited role.

A single mother and her difficult son find family life isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be in this film.This Boy's Life is a film adaptation of the memoir of the same name by Tobias Wolff. It is directed by Michael Caton-Jones and it features Leonardo DiCaprio as Tobias Wolff together with Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin. The film also co-stars Chris Cooper,Carla Gugino,Eliza Dushku and Tobey Maguire in a small role.Nomadic, flaky Caroline just wants to settle down in one place, find a decent guy, and provide a better home for her handful of a son, Toby. When she moves to Seattle and meets the respectful, respectable Dwight Hansen, she thinks she's got it made. Toby, however, feels differently after spending a few months with Dwight and his children and away from Caroline. The boy's stepfather-to-be seems to want to mold Toby into a better person, but to do so he emotionally, verbally, and physically abuses the kid. The marriage proceeds, and soon Caroline, too, recognizes Dwight's need to dominate everyone around him. She sticks with it, though, convinced it's the best thing for her son, and several years of dysfunction ensue. During this time, Tobias befriends another misfit, the possibly homosexual young Arthur Gayle, while continuing to chafe under the yoke of his repressive stepfather.Hoping to leave Concrete and live with his older brother Gregory, Toby decides to apply for east-coast prep-school scholarships. Realizing his grades are not adequate to apply, Toby devises a plan to submit falsified grade reports. Meanwhile, the friendship between Arthur and Toby becomes strained when Arthur confronts Toby regarding his behavior; Arthur tells Toby he is acting more and more like Dwight and asks Toby, "why should you be the one who gets to leave?" Even so, Arthur helps his friend get the papers Toby needs to falsify his grade records and Toby sends in his prep-school applications. When Toby tells Arthur he can leave Concrete and have a better life too, Arthur tells him he will most likely stay. After numerous rejections, Toby is accepted to the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania with a full scholarship.At the end of the film following two years of marriage, Caroline defends Toby during a physically violent argument between her son and husband and they are both seen leaving Dwight and Concrete. This movie provided the first lead role for future superstar Leonardo DiCaprio. He steals the show in this tale of learning how to be a man, with a sly Robert De Niro also giving a good performance.It was a a compelling character study that is well worth watching despite of being too long and a plot that drags.It shows how a resilient teenager survives childhood trauma and adversity through independence, anger and creativity.In short,it is a powerful and compelling stuff that makes it a must-see.

Entertaining from start to finish, this film is more than a depressing film, it's a film about hope, chances, and positivity.This film documents the events in the life of Tobias Wolff and his rough journey as an adolescent. (You should Wikipedia some information after the film since this was released in 1993 and many things can change since then 'till now) The acting from Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Ellen Barkin is sublime, and this film is worth watching.It centers around the life of a child as he lives life with his mother (his father left with the child's older brother who eventually released a book called "Duke of Deception: Memories of My Father"). His life is nothing short of rough, a town of nobodies, but his desire to leave is as strong as his will to do so.This Boy's Life is about finding the positivity in negative situations and taking chances before they pass you by forever. Inspiring and brilliant, Leonardo DiCaprio at a young age still acts better than many.Enjoy this film.