Writer Tobias Wolff's autobiographical tale provided a young Leonardo DiCaprio with an early acting triumph, here cast as the son of Ellen Barkin, a sexy single mom in the 1950s who becomes romantically involved with unpredictable live-wire Robert De Niro. With an adaptation by talented screenwriter Robert Getchell, the film is gripping and real despite a lack of insight into the characters, De Niro's in particular (he's simply a creep with no rationale, and why Barkin gives up her freedom to marry him is never made clear). Despite these faults, the performances are strong (if showy), and DiCaprio more than holds his own opposite the veteran grown-ups. Some moving scenes. **1/2 from ****
Review of This Boy's Life
