Washington, 1950s. After a string of bad boyfriends, Caroline and her son Toby Wolff move to the state, where they meet seemingly mild-mannered Dwight Hansen, who she marries for a stable life. However, Dwight turns out to be an abusive stepfather, and despite getting to know this, Caroline refuses to divorce him, so Toby plans to make his escape.
The take
It’s not easy to watch films about child abuse, so it makes sense that This Boy’s Life wouldn’t be a hit blockbuster, but it’s still surprising how this 90’s film still remains an underrated gem. For starters, big names like Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio (in his breakthrough role), star as leads, and their performances are top-notch. But what ultimately makes the film a good movie to watch is how surprisingly nuanced it depicts child abuse and neglect. Part of this nuance is due to being based on a true memoir, but director Michael Caton-Jones and writer Robert Getchell capture the insidious way abuse can start and become normalized in a household while still highlighting the ways survivors can escape. It’s not an easy watch, but This Boy’s Life is a moving drama that deserves more time in the sun.
What stands out
Leonardo DiCaprio. Not many people can claim to be handpicked by Robert De Niro, and even stand his ground in the same scene, but DiCaprio did it in his teenage years, just a few years before Titanic.
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