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A
dark, intense drama set in the 1950’s about a
boy (DiCaprio) and his mom (Ellen Barkin), traveling
through hard times and the Pacific Northwest in search
of love; (if not love, then security; if not security
then perhaps just a touch of stability) only to buy
into the nightmare of life with a dim-witted hard-ass
named Dwight (Robert DeNiro) who sees it as his personal
- if misguided - duty to whip the teenage rebellion
out of DiCaprio’s emerging spirit; to break him
like a horse and "teach him a thing or two
about a thing or two."
Notorious
for the fact that Leo beat out some 400 other contenders
for the role, there is an oppressive quality - supplied
by DeNiro, chiefly - that permeates this edgy, nervous
film. But it’s Leo’s work that continues
to astound.
From
behind what has come to be known as the ‘signature
brilliant DeNiro performance,’ emerges Leo, in
a performance so profoundly on target, so minutely
observed and so intensely personal, it’s almost
embarrassing to watch. It is a performance that recalls
no one so much as James Dean. Deep and complicated,
it probes the bottomless pit, hidden anger, confusion,
frustration and shame of the abused child. It is a
preternaturally accomplished performance - touching,
harrowing, wise, filled with great promise and completely
unexpected.
Directed by
Michael Caton-Jones
Produced by
Fitch Cady (co-producer)
Peter Guber (executive)
Art Linson
Jon Peters (executive)
Writing credits
Robert Getchell
Tobias Wolff (book)
Cinematography by
David Watkin
Cast
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