The Basketball Diaries
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17

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  1. bjfisher02
    Jan 22, 2011
    9
    Was not sure what to expect coming into the movie but was very pleased with it. Young Leonardo DiCaprio was as good as he was in Inception. Mark Wahlberg did not get very much recognition for the film, I actually did not even know he was in it until the credits rolled, but did an equally astounding job. Basketball Diaries was mos definitely edgy pushing the limits. A fine addition for DiCaprio lovers and movie collectors.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
46 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 5 out of 19
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    20
    The Basketball Diaries is a stepped-on product that never scores.
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  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    50
    A sensationalist grunge festival spiked with dollops of poetry on the sound track.
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  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    The movie is unconvincing. At the end, Jim is seen going in through a "stage door," and then we hear him telling the story of his descent and recovery. We can't tell if this is supposed to be genuine testimony or a performance. That's the problem with the whole movie.
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