Looking at my recent free time (as of the summer of 2022), I’ve decided to delve into movies centered around writers. One of the first films I explored was “The Basketball Diaries” (1995).
The film’s description caught my attention:
“Heroin knows how to wait … In his power, someday, Jim will be. For the next dose, he is ready to steal, kill, sell himself! It will be… someday… It’s a matter of time… Opium knows how to wait. The story of famous musician and poet Jim Carroll diving to the very bottom of the street. Filmed in a brutal style, a picture that shocks with its explicit scenes.”
Intrigue
The film’s descriptions vary across different websites, hinting that one might be crafted for attention rather than accuracy. Surprisingly, this discrepancy piqued my interest, particularly given its intertwined themes of drugs, sports, and art. The broad question of whether a poet and musician can be labeled a writer intrigues me. I lean towards affirming this possibility, leading me to categorize this film as a valuable addition to my collection as a piece centered around a writer.
The pre-viewing allure of the film is strong, serving as a positive sign. The fact that it involves a figure I consider a colleague adds a personal touch, guaranteeing my careful attention throughout its entirety.
Cast
Young Mark Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio, two actors I hold in high regard, always capture my enjoyment when featured in films.
At 21 years old, DiCaprio embodies the persona of a sincere schoolboy, exuding thinness, naivety, and impulsiveness. In contrast, Wahlberg, at 24, distinctly stands out among the generally slender cast. Attempts to portray him as one of their peers seem unsuccessful, as his physique and facial expression unmistakably convey a robust, pumped-up demeanor.
The Script
The film narrates the story of poet Jim Carroll, unfamiliar to me until now. Claiming to be “based on a true story” and adapted from Carroll’s novel, the authenticity is uncertain. However, the depicted path and events carry a convincing tone, leaning towards documentary realism rather than artistic interpretation.
The main part of the review
Question
As a discerning viewer, one question lingered:
What might captivate my interest is an unfamiliar author, one who delved into poetry while identifying as a musician, experimented with drugs and crafted a brief narrative about his own life, which served as the foundation for a film featuring my beloved actors?
Isn’t this a regular piece about nothing?
Wouldn’t half of this movie be fictional, like Carroll’s novella?
The sensation that the author merely portrays himself and his “complex” life in a picturesque manner lingered with me until the very conclusion. I failed to sense the tension and atmosphere, and I found the character development lacking in expressiveness, as if a novice director had taken charge of the production.
Perhaps the beauty of this sentiment can be fully appreciated if one has even a modest familiarity with Jim Carroll, his works, and life events.
I took a brief look into his background: a couple of interviews, a couple of songs. I didn’t discover anything exceptional. Tall, slender, composed, and melancholic – perhaps more vibrant as a poet, though I can’t definitively say.
Sports, basketball
The basketball aspect of the film “The Basketball Diaries” (1995) is impeccably crafted and executed. Having firsthand experience both as a player and a spectator of the sport, I can confidently assert that the basketball game scenes appear realistic and highly convincing.
This isn’t one of those films patched together from numerous clips, where the main character lacks knowledge and only needs to be on-screen for 10%, with the remaining 90% relying on editing and stunt doubles’ maneuvers.
In “The Basketball Diaries” they genuinely engage in the sport. DiCaprio not only plays his part, but does so with confidence and skill.
Writing pattern
The depiction of the main character as the creator is flawless. He writes, envisions, notates, and creates in every setting—be it morning, on a walk, after intimacy, or during training.
His notebook is a constant companion, capturing his thoughts incessantly. This commitment to constant ideation and documentation is a quintessential trait of a writer—action through writing.
He writes with the fervor that befits a genuine writer, propelled by an irrepressible urge to create. The cinematic portrayal of Carroll as an author is beyond reproach.
Drugs
One of the inherent challenges for a writer is the inherent limitation of words in capturing and describing their emotions. When translating a literary work into film, there are two layers of filtration: first, encapsulating emotions and experiences into words, and then successfully translating these words into a visual medium.
This raises a rhetorical question:
Can first-hand experiences, especially those of a creative individual, such as states of drug intoxication, specific life moments, thoughts, and shifts in reality, be accurately depicted?
As a representative of the drug world, I assert that it’s practically impossible. All attempts seem feeble and formulaic. The only way to remotely experience this world is through accounts of the lives of drug addicts.
To truly grasp everything firsthand, one must walk the path oneself, and that becomes an entirely personal story, with the risk of becoming just another commonplace journey to nowhere.
Jim Carroll, as a genuine artist, undoubtedly fulfilled his role by describing his life to the best of his ability. The directors and actors also executed their roles commendably.
However, the portrayal of this path and the so-called “suffering” appears somewhat refined and follows a linear pattern:
a predictable descent, a loss of the vibrant colors of everyday life transitioning into the darkness of the new moon, ultimately resulting in disappointment with the abyss of the lower echelons of society.
Nevertheless, the very impossibility of accurately depicting this world and its states is a notable drawback. On the implementation front, everything is executed at the highest level.
The actors deliver impeccable performances, the locations and atmosphere align with and enhance the script decisions, and the presence of Jim Carroll himself on screen with his drug monologue, coupled with camera decisions, color, music, and makeup, all contribute to making the observation of the film’s existence and progression a truly enjoyable experience.
Creative component
Without the inclusion and contemplation of Carroll (a poet and musician) in the film, it would transform into an unremarkable narrative akin to the stories of countless drug addicts.
The plot appears flat, superficial, and lacking in depth. It unfolds in a simplistic and uninteresting manner: everything starts off well, then takes a downturn, an event occurs leading to a positive turn, though not quite as it was before.
The film “The Basketball Diaries” (1995) is bereft of artistic value. It serves as a prime example of various elements—DiCaprio’s acting, the makeup artist’s work, the director’s role, and the cinematographer’s efforts. However, as a comprehensive creative work, it comes across as too shallow and commonplace.
Composition, the ending
There isn’t much intrigue to speak of. The pattern seems promising initially, but as the movie unfolds, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being somewhat deceived. The plot follows a direct course, lacking surprises or any noteworthy artistic innovations. I’ll refrain from including spoilers in this review, but I’m inclined to express dissatisfaction with the ending of the film. To put it simply: it falls flat, scoring a zero out of 10. The portrayal of the hero’s rehabilitation is disappointingly subpar.
Why Jim Carroll?
I’m still asking myself why this particular drug addict became the subject of an entire movie, especially one featuring remarkable actors?
Honestly, Google hasn’t been much help. He wrote three volumes of poetry, produced three music albums… but there are countless poets in the world. Perhaps there are connections between Carol and some members of the film crew; I’m not certain. The mystery persists.
Why him? What sets Jim Carroll apart to warrant such attention? Maybe you know?
Conclusions
This film is sure to capture the interest of several groups:
- fans of Leonardo DiCaprio (his performance is truly outstanding);
- aspiring young actors looking to draw inspiration from the nineties’ school of acting;
- anyone connected to the world of cinematography; the film “The Basketball Diaries” (1995) excels as a video product, boasting high-quality components across the board;
- true fans of Jim Carroll.
However, the film’s weakest point lies in its script and storyline. It comes across as overly mundane and straightforward. Undoubtedly, the director’s vision plays a crucial role, and in different hands, this autobiographical tale might have appealed more to discerning viewers like myself.
Touching briefly on the athlete, the son, the drug addict, the friend, and the lover, the film offers bits and pieces about everything but doesn’t delve deeper. Is there anything substantial to miss if you skip this movie? Absolutely nothing. Given the abundance of similar films, it doesn’t warrant a second viewing. I wouldn’t even recommend it for a single viewing unless you fall into one of the mentioned categories.
Would I recommend “The Basketball Diaries” to writers?
No. You can easily skip this film without any loss. As a portrayal of a writer, it falls short. While the main character is shown writing extensively in a diary, the nuances of a creative nature are largely neglected. DiCaprio’s character is anyone but a convincing writer. The creative periods seem more like a hobby against the backdrop of other events.
Despite these criticisms, it can be loosely categorized as a film about a writer and finds its (albeit not prestigious) place in my list.
The film isn’t bad; it carries the authentic feel of a nineties movie. This candid essence is present in many Hollywood films from that era. I particularly enjoyed DiCaprio’s vibrant performance, where he truly shines.
Movies based on real events often fall short in quality, and this one is no exception, weak in certain aspects. However, if we set aside criticisms of the script, the film transforms into a remarkable piece.
My rating for the movie “The Basketball Diaries” (1995) is 6 out of 10
