THIS BOY'S LIFE
A film review by James Berardinelli
Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli
Date Released: 4/7/93 Running Length: 1:59 Rated: R (Mature themes, language, sexual situations, violence)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barkin Director: Michael Caton-Jones Producer: Art Linson Screenplay: Robert Getchell from the novel by Tobias Wolff Released by Warner Brothers
The story of THIS BOY'S LIFE is based on the autobiographical book by Syracuse University professor Tobias Wolff. It tells of his early life in Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Concrete (Washington). Tobias (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his mother Caroline (Ellen Barkin) travel from place-to- place, continually trying to start a new life. In Seattle, Caroline meets Dwight (Robert DeNiro), who seems like the perfect choice for a husband. However, when Tobias spends a few months with Dwight and his children in advance of the wedding, he learns that there is a dark side to his potential stepfather-to-be.
There isn't much that can be said about the plot of a story that's based on a person's boyhood adventures. No one but Tobias Wolff knows how much dramatic license was used in writing his memoirs, but THIS BOY'S LIFE has an unmistakable ring of truth to it. Every boy who has grown up in America will surely recognize much of himself - both good and bad - in Tobias.
Pacing is important to a movie like this, and the creative team behind THIS BOY'S LIFE have done an excellent job keeping the story tight and moving. The editing of the film is impressive - over an hour of footage was cut from the final version without any apparent loss of continuity or flow.
Leonardo DiCaprio, whose only previous credit is the television series GROWING PAINS, shows ability here that the confines of a weekly sit-com did not allow. DiCaprio, while certainly not one of the best child actors to come along in recent years, does a highly credible job as Tobias. He is especially good at portraying anger, although his range for other emotions is limited.
Robert DeNiro gives yet another strong performance. This role is more "typical" of him than that in MAD DOG AND GLORY, with the actor portraying a strong man who means well but is plagued by a dark, violent inner nature. Dwight is not evil, but his means and methods are often reprehensible. When he says that he has Tobias' best interests at heart, we believe him, but it quickly becomes apparent that the way he intends to teach Tobias is nothing short of inhumane.
With her latest pictures (this one and John Tuturo's MAC), Ellen Barkin is trying out more challenging and less typical roles. THIS BOY'S LIFE gives her an opportunity to sink her teeth into a relatively-meaty female role (something sadly lacking in too many movies today). Barkin's Caroline, while not the center of the story, is far from a token character. In the end, she is as critical to everything that happens as Dwight and Tobias.
Numerous themes are explored by THIS BOY'S LIFE. The most obvious is that of dominance and subservience. Dwight believes in triumph through physical and emotional force. He will insult and beat up anyone to make it clear that he is in control. At one time or another, he feels a need to assert his power over everyone: his children, his wife, and Tobias.
Another motif of THIS BOY'S LIFE reminded me strongly of one of the themes of THE CRYING GAME. One of the lines repeated in that movie is "It's in your nature." THIS BOY'S LIFE deals with the question of what a person's nature is and whether or not it can be changed. Tobias is forever trying to make himself into a "better person," but it becomes clear as the movie unfolds that changing one's nature is not a simple matter.
Ultimately, THIS BOY'S LIFE works because we get to know the characters, understand their circumstances, and empathize with their dreams. There's a lot of material in this film to reflect upon. Because of the real-life nature of THIS BOY'S LIFE, certain story lines are left dangling while others are resolved in a most un-Hollywood-like manner. The film is enjoyable and emotionally-stirring. Of recent movies, it reminds me most strongly of A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT, if not in content, then at least in general atmosphere. This is a coming-of-age story with more realism and feeling than many other movies of its ilk.
Rating: 8.8 (A, ***1/2)
- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)
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