THIS BOY’S LIFE

US, 1993, 115 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Leonardo di Caprio, Ellen Barkin, Jonah Blechman, Carla Gugino, Chris Cooper, Eliza Dushku, Tobey Maguire.
Directed by Michael Caton- Jones.

This Boy’s Life is a Hollywood production from an acclaimed memoir by prominent university professor and novelist, Tobias Wolff, who might have had a prison career instead of success when we look back at this version of his life.

This was one of the first performances by Leonardo Di Caprio, who had appeared in the television series, Growing Pains. He gives a fine performance as the young Toby, a good-natured boy, who cannot get a grip on his life. He loves his deserted mother, Ellen Barkin, an unrealistically optimistic woman, who tries to settle down and marries a charming, proper suitor, played by Robert De Niro.

Watching De Niro as a late 1950s father, aping the virtues of the commercials and the American ideal, then being unmasked as a brutal ‘daddy dearest’ is to be amazed again at the actor’s versatility.

Chris Cooper, Carla Gugino and Tobey Maguire appear briefly in early roles.

The film keeps the right to blend of toughness and sentiment and has a great deal to say.

1. An autobiographical story? If a hard life? Possible failure? Ultimate success?

2. The 1950s, the state of Utah, the state of Washington, the landscapes, the towns, communities? The town of concrete?

3. The feel, the look, the sets and costumes of the period, cars? The songs, the musical score?

4. The title, the focus on Toby, his wanting to be called Jack? His contributing the voiceover, his perspective on events?

5. The screen presence and performance of Leonardo Dicaprio? Young, with his mother in the car, going to find your brain young? His father, his mother’s boyfriends? The brutal boyfriend? His love for his mother, yet judgmental, the prospects?

6. Jack’s mother, her style, her life up to now, tough, the owner of all? Exploited? The scene with the boyfriend? The background of her husband, his wealth, taking his other son? Optimistically hoping for uranium? Being turned down? Going to Seattle? High hopes?

7. Arrival in Seattle, staying with the women, settling down, Jack going to school, friends, his clashes with his mother, his promises to her?

8. Dwight, Robert De Niro’s presence, the initial impression, the cheery manner, the courtesy, his talk? Charming the women? The outings with Caroline? Jack and his mimicking him?

9. Caroline, the attraction, going to the thanksgiving dinner, meeting his family, the children and their fear of their father, his manner at home, talk, Jack and his challenges, his being rebuked?

10. Moving in with Dwight, life in the house, his rules? The build-up to the wedding? The son in fear of his father, the girl and her studies, his favouring the young girl?

11. Jack, settling in, his room? Dwight and his intrusions? His control, driving fast in the car, Jack sick? His discipline, angers? His drinking? Watching the television, listening to the record? His sense of inferiority, his attacks? The paper round, keeping Jack’s money, buying the dog, keeping it? His violence?

12. Jack and his friends, smoking and drinking, the dirty talk, watching Superman on television, his setting the bar low?

13. Arthur, his effeminate manner, his walking the dog, the taunts of the boys, the dare to Jack to call him homo? The fight, Arthur winning, making Jack take back his words? Dwight and his reaction, his homophobia? Teaching Jack to take a stance? The later meetings with Arthur? Becoming friends? The talk, playing the piano, the kiss, Jack’s calm reaction? The taunt that Jack was becoming like Dwight? Jack’s decision to leave, Arthur not leaving, helping him with his studies?

14. Jack’s friends, driving, talking, drinking, not understanding Jack’s desire for a better future?

15. The years passing, Jack growing up, the possibility of his becoming like Dwight?

16. Caroline, her living with Dwight, the wedding, the wedding night, sexual experience, his violence? Learning to live with him, defending her son? Her wanting to campaign for Kennedy? Dwight’s reaction? Her being upset, campaigning, being her own woman? Realising that Dwight did not even like her?

17. Arthur challenging Jack to study, his work, sitting for the exams, passing, sending the applications? Dwight taunting him, putting the material in the garbage? The visit from the official from the school, the discussions, his interpreting Jack as sensitive, hearing the friends and their crass talk in the diner, Dwight and his challenge? Jack and his reaction, the fight with Dwight, taking his mother and going away?

18. Dwight, his reactions, his self-pity?

19. Tobias Wolff and his being expelled from college, going to Vietnam, his professorial career?

20. The American experience, the American dream, the reality of families and violence, yet hope?