When the words This Boy's Life and Based on a true story appeared within the first few seconds of this movie, I was almost tempted to switch off. Because it looked like something I'd seen in many a TV movie. And I hate TV movies. I've got a real personal bias against them. Because they're so predictable. They dot every i. Cross every t. And they're need for sentiment is nauseating. I was expecting very much the same of This Boy's Life.
But then when I saw Robert De Niro's name on the credits, that gave me pause for thought. So I decided to stay with the film a little while longer. And was pleasantly surprised.
This Boy's Life is a quite compelling portrait of a family on the verge of flying apart. There's not only a strong, commanding performance from Robert De Niro, but an impressively assured one from a young (and then unknown) Leonardo DiCaprio.
DiCaprio plays Tobias 'Toby' Wolff, a rebellious teen of the 1950s. After heading South with his mother Caroline (Ellen Barkin), they wind up in the charmingly titled Concrete, USA.
Hoping for a fresh start after breaking up with an abusive boyfriend, Caroline gets involved with Dwight Hansen (De Niro). The man is an obvious snake-oil salesman. He flatters Caroline constantly. Dazzling her with the use of a lighter. Complimenting her on her "Java". And Toby sees right through him.
Toby knows Dwight is as useless a father and husband as he is a human being. But Caroline is so desperate to marry into a happier life, that it isn't long before she foolishly gets hitched to him. And that's when the trouble starts.
Dwight is a bully. Pure and simple. He enjoys antagonising Toby. Beating up on him. Hoarding his paper route money away for a rainy day. And all because he's trying to make a man of him. Or so Dwight says.
I suppose This Boy's Life isn't terribly original, nor does it do anything strikingly different with the theme of fractured families. But the performances from the excellent cast goes some way towards making up for that.
When I did see Robert De Niro on the credits, on the one hand it enlivened my original flagging spirits, but on the other I proceeded into the film with caution.
I'd just recently watched De Niro in Cape Fear, a film that contains one of his worst ever performances. A performance so annoyingly over the top, he lost all credibility in the role. Even now, 16 years later I still can't watch that film without cringing.
So it was something of a relief to see him revert to form in This Boy's Life. He (mostly) resists the temptation to go overboard, and thoroughly convinces as an abusive bully.
Dwight is quite fascinating to watch. This is a man who feels terminally put upon. He's the victim here. The one who's been shortchanged throughout all his life. He's been left to raise three kids alone. As well as a stepson. His dreams have never come to fruition. So he sees nothing wrong with thwarting the dreams of those around him. Including Toby's.
In his breakout role, Leonardo DiCaprio works wonders. He brings a superb eagle-eyed maturity to Toby. Interesting considering he doesn't always have that quality in some of his later films. But here he's got this character nailed. The way he rotates from frustrated to rebellious and (rare moments of) happiness is just marvellous.
De Niro is careful too the way he shows to us what a thoroughly reprehensible monster he is. Like the little glance he gives us when he learns Caroline's a better shot than him. And then once they're married, his grip closes like a vice, allowing him to cut loose. He does occasionally lapse into some borderline theatrics, but it doesn't ruin the film the way it did Cape Fear.
The ending is quite satisfying too. The inevitable confrontation between Dwight and Toby. I was half expecting it to devolve into a standard psycho-thriller, but This Boy's Life is too smart for that. It's still quite violent, but its an ending that feels true to life. Dwight's pleas at the end sound so pathetic you feel as much pity for him as you do derision.
This Boy's Life is definitely worthwhile. Its a wonderful showcase of emotion for Leonardo DiCaprio. Shows you what a great actor he can be when given the right material to work with. And its a surprisingly complex portrait of a thug who felt misrepresented all his life.
But then when I saw Robert De Niro's name on the credits, that gave me pause for thought. So I decided to stay with the film a little while longer. And was pleasantly surprised.
This Boy's Life is a quite compelling portrait of a family on the verge of flying apart. There's not only a strong, commanding performance from Robert De Niro, but an impressively assured one from a young (and then unknown) Leonardo DiCaprio.
DiCaprio plays Tobias 'Toby' Wolff, a rebellious teen of the 1950s. After heading South with his mother Caroline (Ellen Barkin), they wind up in the charmingly titled Concrete, USA.
Hoping for a fresh start after breaking up with an abusive boyfriend, Caroline gets involved with Dwight Hansen (De Niro). The man is an obvious snake-oil salesman. He flatters Caroline constantly. Dazzling her with the use of a lighter. Complimenting her on her "Java". And Toby sees right through him.
Toby knows Dwight is as useless a father and husband as he is a human being. But Caroline is so desperate to marry into a happier life, that it isn't long before she foolishly gets hitched to him. And that's when the trouble starts.
Dwight is a bully. Pure and simple. He enjoys antagonising Toby. Beating up on him. Hoarding his paper route money away for a rainy day. And all because he's trying to make a man of him. Or so Dwight says.
I suppose This Boy's Life isn't terribly original, nor does it do anything strikingly different with the theme of fractured families. But the performances from the excellent cast goes some way towards making up for that.
When I did see Robert De Niro on the credits, on the one hand it enlivened my original flagging spirits, but on the other I proceeded into the film with caution.
I'd just recently watched De Niro in Cape Fear, a film that contains one of his worst ever performances. A performance so annoyingly over the top, he lost all credibility in the role. Even now, 16 years later I still can't watch that film without cringing.
So it was something of a relief to see him revert to form in This Boy's Life. He (mostly) resists the temptation to go overboard, and thoroughly convinces as an abusive bully.
Dwight is quite fascinating to watch. This is a man who feels terminally put upon. He's the victim here. The one who's been shortchanged throughout all his life. He's been left to raise three kids alone. As well as a stepson. His dreams have never come to fruition. So he sees nothing wrong with thwarting the dreams of those around him. Including Toby's.
In his breakout role, Leonardo DiCaprio works wonders. He brings a superb eagle-eyed maturity to Toby. Interesting considering he doesn't always have that quality in some of his later films. But here he's got this character nailed. The way he rotates from frustrated to rebellious and (rare moments of) happiness is just marvellous.
De Niro is careful too the way he shows to us what a thoroughly reprehensible monster he is. Like the little glance he gives us when he learns Caroline's a better shot than him. And then once they're married, his grip closes like a vice, allowing him to cut loose. He does occasionally lapse into some borderline theatrics, but it doesn't ruin the film the way it did Cape Fear.
The ending is quite satisfying too. The inevitable confrontation between Dwight and Toby. I was half expecting it to devolve into a standard psycho-thriller, but This Boy's Life is too smart for that. It's still quite violent, but its an ending that feels true to life. Dwight's pleas at the end sound so pathetic you feel as much pity for him as you do derision.
This Boy's Life is definitely worthwhile. Its a wonderful showcase of emotion for Leonardo DiCaprio. Shows you what a great actor he can be when given the right material to work with. And its a surprisingly complex portrait of a thug who felt misrepresented all his life.