The Basketball Diaries

Based on the autobiographical journals of poet Jim Carroll, "Basketball Diaries" follows the descent of a Catholic high school student from star basketball player to drug addict. Jim and his friends roam the streets of New York City as goof-offs, petty thieves, and junkies. Expelled from school for using drugs before a game, Jim is also thrown out of his house and takes up street hustling. A pre-superstardom DiCaprio gives a strong performance in this gritty and uncompromising look at being young and streetwise.