This Boy's Life is a nicely acted but excessively bland coming-of-age memoir about a young man's escape from domestic turmoil and abuse, with numerous potent scenes of conflict between the central teenager and his violent stepfather.
This Boy’s Life is a nicely acted but excessively bland coming-of-age memoir about a young man’s escape from domestic turmoil and abuse, with numerous potent scenes of conflict between the central teenager and his violent stepfather.
Tale is based on Tobias Wolff’s acclaimed 1989 book of the same name and is duly narrated in writerly style by young Toby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Hitting the road in 1957 with his working class mother Caroline (Ellen Barkin), Toby begins hanging out with a bad crowd once they settle in Seattle.
Then mom meets Dwight (Robert De Niro), a man’s man with a crewcut. Even before Dwight and Caroline marry, Toby is sent to live with Dwight in Concrete, Wash, where Dwight devotes himself to cutting the sullen ‘hotshot’ down to size.
Unfortunately, after a relatively promising warmup, pic actually proceeds to flatten out the characters in the latter sections. Film’s strength lies in its portrait of the father-stepson struggle, how each pushes the other toward even worse behavior.
Popular on Variety
De Niro brings both a rough charm and ferocious power to Dwight. Centerscreen almost throughout, DiCaprio is excellent as Toby. Barkin weighs in with plenty of spirit until her character dries up.
Jump to CommentsThis Boy’s Life – A True Story
More from Variety
Kris Kristofferson’s 10 Best Songs
Late-Night TV vs. YouTube: Data-Driven Tips on Which Is Better for Celebs Promoting Films
Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Legend and ‘A Star Is Born’ Leading Man, Dies at 88
Barbra Streisand Remembers ‘A Star Is Born’ Co-Star Kris Kristofferson: ‘He Was Something Special’
Flaws in Guilds’ Success-Based Streaming Residual Already Clear
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
Kamala Harris Cracks Open a Miller High Life With Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Disney World, Universal Orlando Theme Park to Close as Florida Braces for Hurricane Milton
Kamala Harris Watches Maya Rudolph’s ‘SNL’ Impression, Praises the Mannerisms: ‘She’s So Good!’
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnp%2Bjp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmismJ7Abq7OsmSsZZyes6Z5wGarq62VYsC1u9GyZGpqYGWBdH2QbW9o