The Basketball Diaries

Coming-of-age biopic set in New York in the early 1970s starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg.

Teenager Jim (DiCaprio) plays for his school's renowned basketball team and dreams of one day making a name for himself on the court.

However, away from the court his life is far from serene when a dabble into drugs quickly develops into a heroin addiction.

As his life spirals out of control he finds solace in keeping a diary.

When his mother (Lorraine Bracco) kicks him out of their home over his drug use he spends time at Rikers Island's juvenile reformatory where his writing becomes the one beacon of hope in his dissolute life.