This Boy's Life

Name: This Boy's Life
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: April 9, 1993
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Ellen Barkin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro

1993

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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3.8

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3.8	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 75 Ratings

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This Boy's Life

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: April 9, 1993 | R

Starring: Ellen Barkin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro

Summary: The dynamic teaming of Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barkin and Leonardo DiCaprio sparks this funny, touching slice-of-life drama that pits rebellious teen Toby (DiCaprio) against his tyrannical new stepfather Dwight (DeNiro). (Warner Bros.)

Director: Michael Caton-Jones

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Terrence Rafferty

Barkin and DiCaprio are sensational. Every time De Niro threatens to take over the picture, they snatch our attention right back, and always with something casual: a look or a gesture that conveys how thoroughly this mother and son understand each other. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

In capturing the compelling battle between a boy and his abusive stepfather, director Michael Caton-Jones cannily avoids obvious sentimentality, opting to let a rather brutal story tell itself. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The film is well-paced and expertly edited, allowing scenes to flow naturally into one another. Read full review

Empire Angie Errigo

Despite its admirable strengths and the fact of it being a true story, there is somehow a failure to completely connect with the fierce boy, giving his unhappy and alienating youth an unfortunate air of unreality. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Unfortunately, after a relatively promising warmup, pic actually proceeds to flatten out the characters in the latter sections and to make them less dimensional and interesting than they initially seemed. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

For This Boy's Life to work as ominous domestic drama, it's essential that we see Dwight as a flesh-and-blood monster. De Niro, unfortunately, just seems to be reveling in the chance to play another viciously demented freak, like Cape Fear's Max Cady. Read full review

Peter Travers

De Niro's decision to make Dwight a loony from the get-go throws the delicate symmetry of the story out of whack. Read full review

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User Reviews

annbd

Jan 29, 2018

Incredible movie with true story that's unbelievable. Great acting from little Leo and of course the good old De Niro. It was nicely accented on the love of the mother, who will do everything for her son's happiness and wellness and the feeling of envy, mixed with hate, which makes youIncredible movie with true story that's unbelievable. Great acting from little Leo and of course the good old De Niro. It was nicely accented on the love of the mother, who will do everything for her son's happiness and wellness and the feeling of envy, mixed with hate, which makes you vulnerable, pitiful and tortured.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

SEROJ

Mar 13, 2013

It's great that i'm the first user to review this masterpiece. The acting is amazing, the story is great and realistic. It's a must watch for all DeNiro or DiCaprio fans and drama lovers. I still have the original VHS in my collection. My final score for "This Boy's Life" is 8/10

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Broyax

Apr 5, 2017

La musique annonce la couleur assez rapidement avec ses vieux tubes croulants des années 50, relayés bien entendu par la guimauve sonore qui accompagne la guimauve pleurnicharde qui s'étale partout pendant tout le film. Au moins, pas de méprise sur la camelote ! on sait qu'on va en boufferLa musique annonce la couleur assez rapidement avec ses vieux tubes croulants des années 50, relayés bien entendu par la guimauve sonore qui accompagne la guimauve pleurnicharde qui s'étale partout pendant tout le film. Au moins, pas de méprise sur la camelote ! on sait qu'on va en bouffer de la grenadine sirupeuse ! car, oui, il s'agit d'un drame psycho-social...

La mère divorcée -la jolie milf Ellen Barkin- de notre petit Caprio tout jeunot s'est en effet remariée avec un péquenot de la cambrousse à pékors -un De Niro remonté comme une pendule- et l'ado qui file un mauvais coton va apprendre à filer droit sous la houlette de son beau-père alcoolo, un enfoirnaze de première bourre.

Normalement, on devrait s'arrêter là et zapper aussi sec... et vous aussi d'ailleurs, mais ne partez pas si vite, car il y a Bob qui nous sort à chaque scène le grand numéro dont il a le secret : on dirait un Affranchi -passablement dégénéré certes- à la retraite ! sa performance de vieux con aigri à n'en plus pouvoir est tout simplement hilarante d'un bout à l'autre, y compris quand ça tourne au pugilat dans la cuisine.

Di Caprio s'en tire alors étonnamment bien face au ténor hargneux qui joue les cadors comme personne, tandis que la milf esseulée a baissé les armes.

Drôle donc, très drôle aux second et troisième degré, caricatural à l'insu de son plein gré, Blessures secrètes fait presque oublier sa psychologie à deux balles et sa morale d'ascenseur en panne une semaine sur deux. On ne s'y attendait pas... sacré Bob !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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