 |
|
|
|
This Boy's Life (1993)
 email this review to a friend
Movie Review by Jarrod
December 4th, 2007
|  |
Leonardo DiCaprio established himself as a young actor of immense talent and potential in 'This Boy's Life', inspired by the writings and memories of Tobias Wolff, who grew up in the 50s and this movie explores his childhood, as he and his mother, Caroline (Ellen Barkin) move in with Dwight (Robert De Niro), whom they believe can give them a better life. Caroline believes this, at least. At a time when an unmarried woman does not have many options available to her, Caroline packs up and relocates to a small town in Washington, called Concrete.
Like pioneers before her, she expects to find promise and hope in the West. Dwight, however, is less than ideal. He is, at best, a sadistic bully, emotionally shallow, impatient and childish. Toby (Dicaprio) notices this right from the start. One might be inclined to think that Dwight is simply trying to make a man out of Toby, and that he is a strict disciplinarian in accordance with the trends of the time, but how to explain punishment when it turns to physical abuse, and when Dwight seems to take pleasure in assaulting someone who is presumably weak and vulnerable, yet possesses the ability to fight back. Dwight never beats Caroline, but he makes his authority over her clear, especially when it comes to sex.
Caroline's deliberate passivity makes her an accomplice of sorts, she certainly knows about Dwight's behavior, but feels that she has nowhere else to go, and so is willing to put up with him, out of desperation. Toby does become stronger, he develops self-confidence, and learns to stick up for himself, with Dwight's unexpected help. And there eventually comes a point when even Caroline has had enough. DiCaprio holds his own against De Niro, never overshadowed or outdone by him, and it always remains Toby's story, he always commands our attention, we feel his pain and anger, and share his loathing of Dwight, played effectively and convincingly by De Niro as the stepfather from hell. Barkin is also excellent.
'This Boy's Life' is an authentic snapshot of the 1950s, from the clothes to the hairstyles to the pop culture, and it is also a celebration of adolescence, the period of rebellion that often accompanies it. Toby sneaks out to drive Dwight's car, knowing that the consequences will be severe, yet choosing to do it anyway, to experience the sheer thrill of it, and also to assert his freedom. One can also detect the prejudices of the era, as typified by Arthur Gayle (Jonah Blechman), a homosexual kid who is teased and tormented, even by Toby, but the two of them eventually bond, maybe because Toby sees how well Arthur deals with those who wish to harm and demean him, retaining his dignity in the face of bigotry. Tobey Maguire made his debut as one of Toby's friends.
email this review to a friend
Comment on this Review:
Sorry, you must be a member to add comments to reviews.
Join or Login. |
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS
|
