Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors that achieved fame years ago are as beloved as Leonardo DiCaprio. since his rise to recognition in the 1990’s, DiCaprio has proven to be a celebrated icon. Whether it’s doomed lovers, departed cops or Wall Street stockbrokers, DiCaprio has played countless strong characters. Arguably, DiCaprio’s strength as an actor has often been powerful commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors which has poured both heart and soul into every role. Through his abilities to portray strong characters that are compelling, DiCaprio has created a legacy which is lasting. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, DiCaprio has become a celebrated icon in entertainment. Throughout a lasting career, DiCaprio has made many commemorated movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of DiCaprio and adore all the movies he has made in his career. However, “This Boy’s Life” is my favourite. Released in 1993, Michael Caton-Jones’ movie offered a portrait of broke families. Packed with bold production-design, stunning storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best films ever made about dysfunctional families. At the centre of it all is a fantastic performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, who embodies a teen facing sorrow. Ultimately, what makes “This Boy’s Life” a timely classic is broad appeal. Unlike most movies about broken families, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. A captivating masterpiece about families that are broken, there are several strong reasons why “This Boy’s Life” is a movie that is worth watching.
“This Boy’s Life” tells the story of a troubled boy’s life. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Tobias Wolff , a troubled teenager that experiences sorrow. Accompanied by his mom Caroline (Ellen Barkin), Tobias locates to a home in Seattle with big dreams. However, Tobias’ dreams are shattered when his mother gets married to an abusive lover. Dwight Hansen (Robert De Niro) is an abusive husband that mistreats Tobias causing tension. Facing a dilemma, Tobias questions whether he can ever create a home in America. Faced with intense pressure, Tobias questions his love for his father. As all the odds soon become stacked against his favour, Tobias wonders whether it is possible for him to survive his abusive father.
Michael Caton-Jones is a newcomer to the stories of broken families. Before he made “This Boy’s Life”, Caton-Jones had seldom made a movie about dysfunctional families. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of broken families facing adversity, but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Caton-Jones captures the life of a boy embarking upon a treacherous journey. Evoking Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People”, Caton-Jones effectively uses close ups to capture the lives of families which are painful. For instance, close ups enhance the family abuse scene. During this memorable scene, Tobias experiences tension when he argues with his grim father. Using stunning close ups, Caton-Jones creates a portrait of broken families that’s compelling. Close ups are tricky techniques. As James Cameron’s “Titanic” suggested, close ups often elevate commemorated movies about tragic shipwrecks. However, it works immensely. Using captivating visuals, Caton-Jones captures the tensions broken families are facing.
Another strong aspect of “This Boy’s Life” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Caton-Jones deftly uses production of homes to capture the lives of dysfunctional families which face tension. For instance, set-design of homes enhanced the family relocation sequence. During this memorable scene, Tobias and his mother relocate to their new home in Seattle seeking better life. Using stunning set-design, Caton-Jones crafts a portrait of broken families that’s compelling. Moreover, the musical score is superb. Carter Burwell’s commemorated music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film tense atmosphere capturing the burden that broken families bear. Using stunning production, Caron-Jones captures tensions that broken families are commonly facing.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “This Boy’s Life” is a movie about broken families which is captivating. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively employs silence to capture a dysfunctional family’s experience. For instance, silence enhances the farewell scene. During this scene, Tobias bids emotional farewells to his mother in a final encounter. Through bold sequences of silence, Caton-Jones creates a portrait of broken families that audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in films. As Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” claimed clearly, silence elevates science fiction films capturing dreams. Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” proved that silence enhances films about suburban families. However, it works immensely in this movie. Through a powerful screenplay, Caton-Jones captures families facing a price to pay.
One appreciates powerful performances.
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his best career performances as Tobias. DiCaprio earned appreciation for playing doomed lovers in romantic dramas. With “This Boy’s Life”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a teenager that is raised in an abusive family but he pulled it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you have seen him in the past before: intense, charming and emotional in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and grief of a teen facing tensions. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most celebrated actors in the industry today.
While the movie is a stunning showcase for Leonardo DiCaprio, the supporting cast is amazing and also worthy of appreciation. Robert De Niro is remarkable, capturing the sorrow of an abusive father that struggles to raise a family that has hit a crushing low. Ellen Barkin is brilliant, capturing tension of a mother struggling to care for a family that is broken. Lastly, Chris Cooper is worthy of appreciation. As an aging father, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “This Boy’s Life” would achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing a broken family’s life. Unlike most movies about dysfunctional families, it discusses strong themes everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including family, identity and social class that will resonate among everyone. Viewers don’t need to be raised in doomed families appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message concerning grief which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “This Boy’s Life” is one of those rare movies everyone would adore.
Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio would definitely appreciate “This Boy’s Life” and so would movie-goers seeking heartbreaking entertainment. A dazzling family drama, it honours an actor with charisma.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about dysfunctional families facing obstacles that are painful, it’s a powerful reminder about a commemorated actor that has built a memorable career through his abilities to portray compelling characters in unforgettable movies audiences consider special.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 