 "One''s youth is a time of experimentation, but sometimes the results we get can't be undone, only learned from" -Unhinged Reviews "The Basketball Diaries" is a powerful film showing some of Hollywood's biggest talents in their earlier years. Leonardo Dicaprio and Mark Wahlberg star as two youths struggling with typical "teen" problems amidst a whirlwind of early drug addiction. This movie is also based off of the autobiographical writings of Jim Carroll, a poet, a novelist who is now deceased. We imagine through his work that he hoped his words would change the lives of many, if not one. If you know someone struggling with drug addiction, point them to this film, it's one of the best. Now, Let's Unhinge What's the movie about? As we said above, "The Basketball Diaries" follows the story of a young Jim Carroll through a haze of drugs and adolescent struggles. At first, Jim(DiCaprio) is able to balance his extra curricular "partying" with friends, as well as, maintain a blooming basketball career, but drugs begin taking hold. You know how it goes, do a little bit today and wait until next weekend, but that can only last for so long. It might of been different if his friends, Mickey(Wahlberg) Pedro(Madio) and Neutron(McGaw) hadn't been so gung-ho about getting wasted along with him. Of course they didn't start out exploring at the deep-end, but eventually chasing the next high became their entire focus. Well at least for three of them, one was smart enough to put his sobriety above his intoxicated gallivant across the universe. But isn't that normally how it happens? Everything is fun at first and then the next thing you know, someone's stealing from their mom or breaking into a store. "The Basketball Diaries" is a powerful story that can educate, inform and redirect someone heading down the treacherous path of addiction. There's a lot more to be said about the plot, but we'll let you discover that on your own. Incredible Performances Now, we've all seen Leo in some crazy roles, but this one is about as raw as it gets! He's literally foaming at the mouth and crawling on his knees to get Jim his fix. You know that look in someone's eye when they are craving dope or that look of desperation in withdrawal? Yeah, Leo totally owns his role. This sole performance is by far one of his top three and that's even with all the other successes he's had at the box office. Wahlberg also pulls some heavy weight in this film as Mickey, a muscly addict that cares about no one. Who would've thought a kid from The Funky Bunch would have been as fluid on camera as he was on stage? You've got to remember this film is almost 20 years old and there was no "Shooter" or even "Italian Job" yet. This was just Mark Walhberg getting a role and crushing the "heck" out of it with a more than memorable performance. There are also a few other actors in this film with either notable cameos or performances that you will see as you dig in, but Leo and Wahlberg are the two most known. We're just glad that they all came together to make this extraordinary film for us review and for our readers to watch. Last Thoughts Films such as "The Basketball Diaries" should be viewed as more than entertainment, for their value is worth more than gold. A film like this can save a life or dissuade someone from going down a dark path. We're not here to tell you what to do, but if you're "out there" don't wait to late to come home because the longer you wait...the harder it will be. -Unhinged Reviews- If you enjoyed our Unhinged Review of "The Basketball Diaries" don't forget to share it with a friend to spread word about quality film. Also, in retweeting or liking this post you promote the site as well. Thanks in advance! Want more film reviews about troubled teens? Try Jamesy Boy | Thirteen | Wassup Rockers One more thing, if you're really struggling with addiction and want help: 1-800-662-HELP
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