Rating: 
Summary: "His Father's Strife"!
Review: "This Boy's Life" is such a great movie. I first saw this on tv five years ago, and I must say I was blown away! Leonardo DiCaprio is great in one of his first feature films. He plays 'Jack' (aka: Tobias Wolfe), reknowned writer of today. But this movie isn't about his rising success as a writer, this movie is about his struggle growing up with a rather mean step-father. Jack's step-father is played by Robert di Nero. Di Nero does an excellent job portraying Jack's ferocious, manipulant and jealous step-father, Dwight. I could really relate to this movie, which is why I loved it so much. And even now when I watch it again my teeth cringe towards Di Nero's performance of Dwight; he really get's me angry! Even though Di Nero is superb in giving Dwight his sinister appeal, he also manages to give the character a sense of humanity; which is what makes him such a great actor. After feeling so much hatred towards Dwight throughout most of the picture, at the end we almost cry for him as his family is leaving him; he walks out onto the porch practically with tears in his eyes yelling "What about me. What about me!" Ellen Barkin also does a great job of portraying Jack's mother, who is torn between being a wife to Dwight and having the family she'd always wanted and supporting her abused son. The only thing about the film I didn't like was the shallow way we are presented with Dwight's biological children from a previous marriage; they are almost never there! Still, this is an awesome movie, and if you havent seen it yet then you should!
Rating:
Summary: Not Just Another Leo Movie
Review: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Barkin, and Robert De Niro star in the drama "This Boy's Life" about the true life of Tobias Woolf. This highly dramatic movie contains many shocking scenes that may become eye openers to some. Such intensity keeps the audience closely watching every second. The extreme of it forces the audience to feel what every character feels. More than just the excellent screenplay writing acts out this task. The cast and crew brilliantly perform their roles. Every actor assists with the audience impacts with their wonderful performances. No one holds back a drop of emotion from their characters. Robert De Niro wonderfully plays a child abuser. Though few will like the character, he'll be remembered by many. Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Barkin brilliantly play the victims. This is more noticable in DiCaprio because the cruelty hits him the hardest. His closely-breaking-down parts are performed realisticly. "This Boy's Life" is the movie for those who are looking for a power drama. Its impact will never be forgotten by anyone. Anyone who watches this movie will be entertained.
Rating: 
Summary: Do Yourself A Favor: Read the Book.
Review: This is one of those cases where the book is WAY better than the movie. The graphic gratuitous sex scenes are not in the book, and as Tobias Wolff himself has wondered, since signing over the rights, and I'm paraphrasing, "This is a story which is seen through a kid's eyes; How would the kid have known what was going on inside his Mother's bedroom?" It looks like the movie makers just wanted to throw in some gratuitous T & A garbage.
Another thing: in the book, Dwight, the father, is abusive, yes; however, he is also so pitiful and bumpkinesque that he evokes as much laughter as he does villification. In the movie, Dwight is a 2-dimension stereotypical alcoholic abuser and that's all.
Read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Superb acting by DiCaprio & De Niro
Review: The first time I saw this movie on TV, I was so touched by the acting ability of the young actor playing the son of single mom. This was long before I had ever heard of Leonardo DiCaprio. I am a die-hard fan of Robert De Niro and try to watch "every" movie he has ever been featured in: what a fantastic actor he is! I truly hated him in this role because he was so mean to "Jack". I have seen the movie three times now and I want to "jump in" to protect this poor child. I am going to buy the video to watch over & over. In my opinion, these two actors will be "legends" like James Dean & Marilyn Monroe, for future generations to come. (My 18-year old son thinks Robert De Niro is the best actor he has ever seen in a movie.) Thanks to these two Wonderful Professionals, I have been totally entertained!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie and one of DiCaprio's best works !!!
Review: I am not sure what exactly T.Wolff and Michael Caton Jones wanted to say by the movie. Perhaps my understanding would be somewhat different, but my vision is that reducing it to a simple family violence story does not reveal the real drama. The movie is a desperate attempt to get out of this town, this social environment, it's a challenge to predestination. The whole town itself, Tobbias friends, abusive father in law are nothing more than decorations, cover images. They simply personify and represent what would have happened to Tobbias and his life had he decided to stay. Great Movie and one of DiCaprio's best works !!!
Rating:
Summary: Not Just Another Leo Movie
Review: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Barkin, and Robert De Niro star in the drama "This Boy's Life" about the true life of Tobias Woolf. This highly dramatic movie contains many shocking scenes that may become eye openers to some. Such intensity keeps the audience closely watching every second. The extreme of it forces the audience to feel what every character feels. More than just the excellent screenplay writing acts out this task. The cast and crew brilliantly perform their roles. Every actor assists with the audience impacts with their wonderful performances. No one holds back a drop of emotion from their characters. Robert De Niro wonderfully plays a child abuser. Though few will like the character, he'll be remembered by many. Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Barkin brilliantly play the victims. This is more noticable in DiCaprio because the cruelty hits him the hardest. His closely-breaking-down parts are performed realisticly. "This Boy's Life" is the movie for those who are looking for a power drama. Its impact will never be forgotten by anyone. Anyone who watches this movie will be entertained.
Rating:
Summary: "His Father's Strife"!
Review: "This Boy's Life" is such a great movie. I first saw this on tv five years ago, and I must say I was blown away! Leonardo DiCaprio is great in one of his first feature films. He plays 'Jack' (aka: Tobias Wolfe), reknowned writer of today. But this movie isn't about his rising success as a writer, this movie is about his struggle growing up with a rather mean step-father. Jack's step-father is played by Robert di Nero. Di Nero does an excellent job portraying Jack's ferocious, manipulant and jealous step-father, Dwight. I could really relate to this movie, which is why I loved it so much. And even now when I watch it again my teeth cringe towards Di Nero's performance of Dwight; he really get's me angry! Even though Di Nero is superb in giving Dwight his sinister appeal, he also manages to give the character a sense of humanity; which is what makes him such a great actor. After feeling so much hatred towards Dwight throughout most of the picture, at the end we almost cry for him as his family is leaving him; he walks out onto the porch practically with tears in his eyes yelling "What about me. What about me!" Ellen Barkin also does a great job of portraying Jack's mother, who is torn between being a wife to Dwight and having the family she'd always wanted and supporting her abused son. The only thing about the film I didn't like was the shallow way we are presented with Dwight's biological children from a previous marriage; they are almost never there! Still, this is an awesome movie, and if you havent seen it yet then you should!
Rating:
Summary: True Dramatized Story
Review: I was quite sad after finishing the book "This Boy's Life" because it was such a well written book about times past and innocence lost. I rushed to rent the movie from Blockbusters and was quite disappointed. Many details were missing and some were overly dramatized, such as the scene of the wedding night between Dwight and Toby's mother. Call me old timer, if you want, but I thought it was unnecessary to be so graphic since the book certainly didn't give the details of sodomy, although I should have expected it in Hollywood productions. The book was far better. I don't suppose movies can quite capture the details of a book, perhaps only its essence. I must say the movie captures the essense well. Also, it was listed as a True Story in the beginning of the movie. It should have been called True Dramatized Story instead.
Rating:
Summary: Real. Absolutely REAL.
Review: I have always liked Leonardo DiCaprio. I think that his portrayal in the television show 'Growing Pains' was very heartfelt and brought a lot of depth to the show. Since the time that he first started there, I began to fall more and more deeply in love with his acting ability and his talent. There are, however, few of his movies until recently (Gangs of New York) that I could say I really enjoyed. This was one of those few. I tend to carry a copy of this movie around with me now in the hopes that I'll find a video player, that is how intense my feelings are for this particular movie. I have also read Tobias Wolff's autobiography on which this movie was based, and I have got to say that the movie outshines even the book! A rare thing indeed! Never have I seen better acting than that which is performed by DiCaprio and De Niro in this particular movie. They are a stunning team, work brilliantly together, and truly bring the effect of the relationship between Jack (Tobias) and his step-father home to the audience. If this movie doesn't make you cry, nothing will! The film industry needs to put out more movies like this more regularly. Nothing can compare to a great movie with a lot of heart that shows, ultimately *reality*. "This Boy's Life" does just that where many, many others have failed. Brilliant acting by DiCaprio, De Niro and Barkin and outstanding directing make this one to own and to treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Touches sensitive issues
Review: I have watched this movie many times on VHS. After I write this, I am going to order it on DVD. The issues it touches are single mothers, abusive fathers, and homosexuality. I have read all the reviews that other people wrote and didn't see this last topic touched upon. It also is intertwined with the issue of bullying. Two other boys look upon the gay boy as being weak just because he was gay. They convince Dwight (Leonardo) to pick a fight with this boy. The gay boy wins the fight and he and Leonardo become friends due to a mutual interest in playing the piano. Dwight, going to a new school at high school age, which is always a difficult adjustment, is desperately in need of friends. This was very moving to me.
In addition, there is a wonderful conclusion to Dwight's problems with his abusive father (Robert Deniro). I disagree with the reviewer who disliked the ending. Watch this movie. It is so overlooked. Yet it is one of my favorites-a very moving experience.
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