Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg are two actors whose careers seem totally opposite from one another, even if they briefly competed for the role of Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights. While Wahlberg was already an established musician by the time that he began appearing in films, DiCaprio came from a family of actors and had slowly evolved in his craft after first breaking through as a child star. The vast difference in their acting styles is one of the reasons why it was so electrifying to see them go head-to-head in The Departed, the Best Picture-winning crime masterpiece from Martin Scorsese. However, DiCaprio and Wahlberg first shared the screen with one another in the underrated addiction drama The Basketball Diaries.
The Basketball Diaries was released during an interesting period in DiCaprio’s career where he was attempting to be treated more seriously; although he had earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a teenager in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, DiCaprio aimed to prove that he could be just as compelling in more mature roles. Wahlberg had only briefly acted in Renaissance Man and wanted to ensure that his career did not go down the disastrous route that many other musicians-turned-actors faced. The Basketball Diaries was a grounded, realistic examination of the effects of drug culture, and solidified the careers of two of today’s most important movie stars.
‘The Basketball Diaries’ Was Based on a Tragic True Story
The Basketball Diaries was based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Jim Caroll, a high school basketball star who struggled to kick his heroin addiction when he vied for a shot at going pro. DiCaprio stars as Jim during the most difficult period of his adolescence, as he is mourning the death of his friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli). The pressure to be at the peak of his abilities, mixed with the emotional abuse he’s endured from the mentors in his life, leads Jim to begin using drugs more aggressively. Despite the fact that he’s a surprisingly eloquent, intelligent young man with a keen interest in writing and poetry, Jim has come to believe that there is no hope for him to have a better life off the court. Unfortunately, the new friends that Jim has begun to spend time with include Mickey, a dangerous young man played by Wahlberg. While Jim has already become accustomed to using drugs, Mickey begins to lead their group into committing small-time crimes.
The Basketball Diaries offered a far more sympathetic portrayal of addiction issues than Hollywood had been willing to depict in the previous decade. While propaganda from the “just say no!” campaign of the Ronald Reagan administration had placed the blame exclusively on drug users, The Basketball Diaries examined how emotionally vulnerable teenagers could find drug use as a means of escapism during a difficult period in their lives. Since Jim does not have a support system at home or at school that would allow him to be open about his mental health struggles, his only option is to spend time with his rowdy friends on the basketball team, who have already become addicts. The film expertly shows the pressure put on student athletes; while they aren’t compensated for their hard work and hours spent training, they still face shame if they don’t gain the victories that would be claimed for their school. At the same time, Jim is desperate to stand out so that his skills will be noticed, as he understands that a scholarship or professional offer is the only way to escape his circumstances.
‘The Basketball Diaries’ Offers Insight on the Perils of Addiction
The Basketball Diaries does not shy away from the graphic consequences of addiction, as it certainly took a darker approach than most teen films of the 1990s. While it may not have been quite as brutal as other classics like Drugstore Cowboy or Trainspotting, the star appeal of Wahlberg and DiCaprio may have convinced young people to see The Basketball Diaries, a film that could have had a very positive impact on their lives. Although the film’s message about recovery and relapse is more than apparent, The Basketball Diaries never feels like it’s berating the audience or becoming a PSA; it’s still a lively portrayal of New York City, and offers a plethora of niche references for those who grew up obsessed with ‘90s basketball.
The Basketball Diaries may have been a financial disappointment, but it indicated that both DiCaprio and Wahlberg were willing to take a chance on non-commercial projects with material that they felt was important. DiCaprio offered a raw, vulnerable performance that previewed the emotional dedication he would approach within future roles, such as The Aviator or The Revenant. Wahlberg proved that he could use his whip-smart personality to play an edgy, dark character, which is a skill that he would utilize in films like We Own The Night and Three Kings. While The Departed is considered one of the best films that DiCaprio and Wahlberg have ever been involved with, The Basketball Diaries is an underrated gem that showed their potential.
Release Date
April 21, 1995
Runtime
102 minutes
Director
Scott Kalvert
Writers
Bryan Goluboff, Jim Carroll
Producers
Chris Blackwell, Dan Genetti, John Bard Manulis