The film lacks a certain degree of persuasiveness, and the preaching taste is a bit too deliberate. Without DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, it would be even more ostentatious and unattractive.
"The Basketball Diaries" is very serious from filming to editing, but the overall quality of the film seems a bit clumsy. Although the film lacks style and vision, DiCaprio's performance is excellent.
The story of the film is not so novel, but the simple narrative style and profound themes are enough to impress viewers. The film shows the audience a difficult, tense, and painful picture, telling stories about drugs, growth and survival, and allowing the audience to blend into it. Leo's performance promoted the storyline very well.
