Directed by Scott Kalvert
102 minutes
In English

In New York City back in the 80s there was a punkish poet-singer-performer named Jim Carroll. He was an underground-type, who hung out with Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe—and he was a junkie. This is a film based on his autobiographical novel.

Before starring in Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio took on much more risky and challenging roles. He was almost like a renegade horse, whereas today he seems like someone's pet. Most biographies skip over this early period—films in which he portrayed a mentally ill brother (Gilbert Grape), the French poet Arthur Rimbaud and his queer relationship to Paul Verlaine (Total Eclipse), and this film where he portrays a junky writer are all prime examples.

Derided by critics, and rejected by the mainstream movie crowd when it was made, this movie later exploded into becoming a cherished cult film. The story begins with Carroll's teenage years as a high-school basketball player, and follows him into the urban streets of Sin city. The film's edge comes from his journey through these dark streets, and fusing it with Jim Carroll's drifting poetic narration. Also starring Mark Wahlberg and with an appearance by Juliette Lewis. The music is by Soundgarden, PJ Harvey, etc.

Jim Carroll's own music was huge back in the 80s. Take a listen to this classic.