"Actor: Leonardo"

  • Dune [1984]Dune | DVD | (04/10/2004) from £6.24   |  Saving you £-0.25 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

    David Lynch's Dune is the brilliant but fatally flawed would-be epic feature film version of Frank Herbert's novel of the same name, the bestselling science fiction novel ever written. It is a complex but too heavily simplified version of a far more elaborate book, a darkly Gothic far future space opera revolving around an imperial, dynastic power struggle on the desert planet of Arrakis. With what was in 1984 an enormous $40 million budget, Lynch retained a surprising amount of the industrial/Victorian feel of his previous features, Eraserhead (1976) and The Elephant Man (1980), and was able to bring to the screen some of the most imaginative and awe-inspiring production designs, costumes and action then seen. Indeed, as a spectacularly atmospheric vision of the future Dune has as much to recommend it as the far more celebrated Blade Runner (1982), with which it even shares the female romantic lead, Sean Young--here just one star in a superb cast. The problem, which an unauthorised extended TV version failed to fix, is that Lynch's original vision of Dune was massively cut for length, and as such the final third is so rapidly paced as to undermine the superb first two thirds. A director's cut is sorely needed, the cinema version playing like a butchered masterpiece. Also available is an entirely unconnected four-and-a-half-hour mini-series, Frank Herbert's Dune (2000), which is less visionary but more coherent. On the DVD: The 2.35:1 image suffers from not being anamorphically enhanced. There are minor flecks of dirt and scratches, but generally the print used is in good condition although there is a considerable amount of grain in some scenes and the image could be more detailed. The packaging claims the sound is Dolby Digital 5.1, but it is actually three-channel sound (stereo plus centre speaker), with the main stereo feed being duplicated in the rear channels. A full 5.1 remastering would improve matters considerably. Special features consist of the original trailer and a pointless gallery of seven badly cropped stills. There is a very basic animated and scored menu using the portentous main theme music from the film. --Gary S Dalkin

  • Waterworld 4k [Blu-ray] [2019] [Region Free]Waterworld 4k | Blu Ray | (29/07/2019) from £21.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Centuries of global warming have caused the polar ice caps to melt, flooding the earth as civilization is left adrift. The inhabitants of this once-flourishing planet cling to life on incredible floating cities, their existence constantly threatened by Smokers bands of marauding pirates who roam the featureless surface of Waterworld. For the survivors, one chance remains: a solitary hero, known only as the Mariner. Battling the Smokers and their ruthless leader, the Deacon, the Mariner sets out with a beautiful woman and a mysterious little girl on a search for a new beginning.

  • One Kiss [DVD]One Kiss | DVD | (21/11/2016) from £15.29   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Sixteen-year old Antonio, a typically handsome basketball player, Blu a head strong and sexually confident woman, and new kid Lorenzo an openly gay fashionista and huge Lady Gaga fan form the sort of intimate bond only teenagers can- forming a protective shield for each other from their fellow classmates and home dramas. But with barely containable hormones constantly bubbling to the surface, complications inevitably arise between the best of friends, eventually creating a circumstance none could predict. ONE KISS is an always vibrant landmark in Italian cinema, an unmissable story of outsider friendship, the limits of imagination, and the consequence of honesty.

  • The Basketball Diaries - Special Edition [Blu-ray]The Basketball Diaries - Special Edition | Blu Ray | (18/03/2019) from £13.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Film adaptation of street tough Jim Carroll's epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction. As a member of a seemingly unbeatable high school basketball squad, Jim's life centres around the basketball court and the court becomes a metaphor for the world in his mind. A best friend who is dying of leukaemia, a coach ( Swifty ) who takes unacceptable liberties with the boys on his team, teenage sexual angst, and an unhealthy appetite for heroin - all of these begin to encroach on young Jim's dream of becoming a basketball star. Soon, the dark streets of New York become a refuge from his mother's mounting concern for her son. He can't go home and his only escape from the reality of the streets is heroin for which he steals, robs and prostitutes himself. Only with the help of Reggie, an older neighbourhood friend with whom Jim picked up a game now and then, is he able to begin the long journey back to sanity.

  • Body Of Lies [2008]Body Of Lies | DVD | (30/03/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

    "Body of Lies" is based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius' 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan.

  • Avatar / Titanic Double Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray) [1997]Avatar / Titanic Double Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (17/06/2013) from £17.55   |  Saving you £22.44 (127.86%)   |  RRP £39.99

    AvatarThe widely-acclaimed film that ushered in a new generation of 3D filmmaking, it's unsurprising that, come its Blu-ray release, Avatar remains one of the finest proponents of the technology. Whilst the 3D obviously doesn't have quite the impact it had on a massive cinema screen, it nonetheless still works strikingly well on Blu-ray. It's surprising, considering the number of films that have attempted to surpass Avatar's visual feats since it was released just how few have come close. Such is the standard of director James Cameron's visual work. Parts remain as jaw-dropping as they always were. The film itself smashed records on its release, and it's easy to see why. It's perhaps not the masterpiece it was initially proclaimed at, but this is intense, exhilarating blockbuster entertainment nonetheless. Ambitious, too. It's hard to think of too many other films that have so convincingly put across a fictional alien world as Avatar manages, and particularly in the intense final half hour, it looks simply glorious. James Cameron is a notorious perfectionaist too when it comes to the presentation of his work, and this disc release is a real testament to that. The Blu-ray presentation is exquisite, and Avatar stands up as a reference disc. Not just on the visual side, either. The audio quality the Blu-ray offers is quite brilliant. It all adds up to a strong film, on one of the best discs on the market for a home cinema workout. --Jon Foster TitanicWith eleven Oscars on its mantelpiece, star-making turns from Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and a soundtrack that continues to sell, Titanic's place in movie history has long since been assured. However, director James Cameron, one of the biggest advocates of 3D technology, invested a heavy amount of time, resources and hard cash in adapting his hugely popular film. And this 3D release is the end result. The film itself needs little introduction. Epic in ambition and scale, Titanic tells the story of the sole voyage of the infamous ship, focusing its story on a young couple from different walks of life. It's a feature whose merits have been vigorously debated since its release, but the consensus remains hugely positive. The spectacle alone, especially in this crystal-clear, effective 3D Blu-ray transfer, is something to behold. But there's both a compelling drama and a modern day disaster movie classic also mixed in. The 3D Blu-ray Titanic is an example of how to present a film superbly well. --Jon Foster

  • Inception [DVD]Inception | DVD | (06/12/2010) from £4.43   |  Saving you £18.56 (418.96%)   |  RRP £22.99

    "Inception" sees a man (Leonardo DiCaprio) become involved in a murder of the mind when he starts to see visions of a crime unfold.

  • Gangs Of New York [Blu-ray] [2002]Gangs Of New York | Blu Ray | (13/08/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

    New York 1863. Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young Irish-American immigrant, returns after fifteen years to seek revenge against William Cutting (Daniel Day Lewis) the powerful anti-immigrant gang leader who killed Amsterdam's father.

  • Inception [Blu-ray][Region Free]Inception | Blu Ray | (06/12/2010) from £7.97   |  Saving you £17.02 (213.55%)   |  RRP £24.99

    Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) plays the mysterious master of extraction in this science fiction/action adventure. Cobb travels into the darkest of dream-worlds and does what few others can; stealing valuable information from inside the subconscious mind during the vulnerable state of sleep. Cobb’s key skill makes him a sought after player in industrial espionage, but at what cost? Cobb is forced on the run and can only survive if he can do one thing; Inception – changing a dream for his own benefit, rather than stealing information. A dangerous enemy is hooked on Cobb’s trail and seems to predict their every move. There is no way out, nothing can prepare them for this hazardous foe; a foe only Cobb could have seen coming. From acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan comes one of the biggest films of the year and a subject matter that has never been tackled before, you really are into another world in this film.

  • The Great Gatsby - Limited Edition Steelbook [Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + UV Copy] [2013] [Region Free]The Great Gatsby - Limited Edition Steelbook | Blu Ray | (11/11/2013) from £7.27   |  Saving you £21.72 (298.76%)   |  RRP £28.99

    From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker created his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. The Great Gatsby follows would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922 an era of loosening morals glittering jazz bootleg kings and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream Nick lands next door to a mysterious party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin Daisy and her philandering blue-blooded husband Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich their illusions loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness within and without of the world he inhabits he pens a tale of impossible love incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. Special Features: The Greatness of Gatsby Within and Wihout with Tobey Maguire The Swinging Sounds of Gatsby The Jazz Age Razzle Dazzle: The Fashion of the '20s Fitzgerald's Visual Poetry Gatsby Revealed: Gatsby's Party Disconcerting Ride The Plaza Pool Scene Deleted Scenes

  • Titanic/The Man In The Iron Mask/Romeo And Juliet [DVD]Titanic/The Man In The Iron Mask/Romeo And Juliet | DVD | (13/04/2009) from £9.87   |  Saving you £0.12 (1.22%)   |  RRP £9.99

    Titanic: Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar nominee Kate Winslet light up the screen as Jack and Rose the young lovers who find one another on the maiden voyage of the unsinkable R.M.S. Titanic. But when the doomed luxury liner collides with an iceberg in the frigid North Atlantic their passionate love affair becomes a thrilling race for survival. Man In The Iron Mask: Its 'all for one and one for all' as the Three Musketeers along with D'Artagnan reunite in this swashbuckling tale of action and adventure. Leonardo DiCaprico stars in the dual role of the cruel King Louis XIV and the mysterious prisoner encased in the iron mask. Paris is starving but the King of France is more interested in the debauched affairs of court. The Musketeers devise a daring plot to save France from the tyranny of this King only D'Artgnan stands in their way. The Man in the Iron Mask is a stunning film of intrigue danger action and romance. Romeo + Juliet: Baz Luhrmann's dazzling and unconventional adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic love story is spellbinding. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes portray Romeo and Juliet the youthful star-crossed lovers of the past. But the setting has been moved from its Elizabethan origins to the futuristic urban backdrop of Verona beach. This brilliant and contemporary retelling of the world's most tragic love affair makes this wildly inventive Romeo & Juliet unforgettable.

  • Moulin Rouge / Romeo And Juliet [2001]Moulin Rouge / Romeo And Juliet | DVD | (31/05/2004) from £14.99   |  Saving you £1.00 (6.67%)   |  RRP £15.99

    Moulin Rouge (1 Disc Edition): A spectacle beyond anything you've ever witnessed. An experience beyond everything you've ever imagined. Behind the red velvet curtain the ultimate seduction of your senses is about to begin. Welcome to the Moulin Rouge! Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor sing dance and scale the heights of passionate abandon in this most talked-about movie from visionary director Baz Luhrmann (William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet Strictly Ballroom). Enter a tanta

  • The Great Gatsby [Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + UV Copy] [2013] [Region Free]The Great Gatsby | Blu Ray | (11/11/2013) from £11.95   |  Saving you £15.04 (125.86%)   |  RRP £26.99

    From the uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. The filmmaker created his own distinctive visual interpretation of the classic story bringing the period to life in a way that has never been seen before in a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role. The Great Gatsby follows would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922 an era of loosening morals glittering jazz bootleg kings and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream Nick lands next door to a mysterious party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin Daisy and her philandering blue-blooded husband Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich their illusions loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness within and without of the world he inhabits he pens a tale of impossible love incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. Special Features: The Greatness of Gatsby Within and Wihout with Tobey Maguire The Swinging Sounds of Gatsby The Jazz Age Razzle Dazzle: The Fashion of the '20s Fitzgerald's Visual Poetry Gatsby Revealed: Gatsby's Party Disconcerting Ride The Plaza Pool Scene Deleted Scenes

  • The Terminal / Catch Me If You Can / Cast AwayThe Terminal / Catch Me If You Can / Cast Away | DVD | (03/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

    Includes the following films:The Terminal:Starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta Jones. Viktor Navorski (Hanks) gets caught in bureaucratic glitches that make it impossible for him to return to his home country to enter the U.S. Now, caught up in the richly complex and amusing world inside J.F.K. airport, Viktor makes friends, gets a job, finds romance and ultimately discovers America itself.Catch Me If You Can:Inspired by the true story of a brilliant master of deception and the FBI agent, hot on his trail, Catch Me If You Can stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in one of the year's most acclaimed hits! From director Steven Spielberg, Catch Me If You Can follows Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. as he successfully passes himself off as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor - all before his 21st birthday!Cast Away:Tom Hanks stars as Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems engineer whose ruled-by-the-clock existence abruptly ends when a harrowing plane crash leaves him isolated on a remote island. As Chuck struggles to survive, he finds that his own personal journey has only just begun...

  • Catch Me If You Can [2003]Catch Me If You Can | DVD | (28/07/2003) from £5.80   |  Saving you £14.19 (244.66%)   |  RRP £19.99

    Based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., the youngest man to ever feature on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list who managed to pass himself off with several identities with an FBI agent hot on his trail.

  • Dune UHD (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]Dune UHD (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (30/08/2021) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    A Place Beyond Your Dreams. A Movie Beyond Your Imagination. Following a notorious aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s, Frank Herbert's bestselling sci-fi epic Dune finally made it to the big screen as the third film by emerging surrealist wunderkind David Lynch, featuring an all-star cast that includes several of Lynch's regular collaborators. The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides' son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the centre of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever. Though its initial reception ensured that Lynch largely eschewed mainstream filmmaking for the rest of his career, Dune has since been rightly re-evaluated as one of the most startlingly original and visionary science fiction films of the 1980s. Its astonishing production design and visual effects can now be appreciated anew in this spellbinding 4K restoration, accompanied by hours of comprehensive bonus features. Special Features: Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative 60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Nette, Christian McCrea and Charlie Brigden, an American Cinematographer interview with sound designer Alan Splet from 1984, excerpts from an interview with the director from Chris Rodley's book Lynch on Lynch and a Dune Terminology glossary from the original release Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor DISC ONE - FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Brand new audio commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon Brand new audio commentary by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast Impressions of Dune, a 2003 documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with star Kyle MacLachlan, producer Raffaella de Laurentiis, cinematographer Freddie Francis, editor Antony Gibbs and many others Designing Dune, a 2005 featurette looking back at the work of production designer Anthony Masters Dune FX, a 2005 featurette exploring the special effects in the film Dune Models & Miniatures, a 2005 featurette focusing on the model effects in the film Dune Costumes, a 2005 featurette looking at the elaborate costume designs seen in the film Thirteen deleted scenes from the film, with a 2005 introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis Destination Dune, a 1983 featurette originally produced to promote the film at conventions and publicity events Theatrical trailers and TV spots Extensive image galleries, including hundreds of still photos DISC TWO BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY) The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune, a brand new feature-length documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the making of the film, featuring dozens of new and archive interviews with cast and crew Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune, a brand new featurette exploring the merchandise created to promote the film, featuring toy collector/producer Brian Sillman (The Toys That Made Us) Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune, a brand new featurette on the film's music score, featuring interviews with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and film music historian Tim Greiving Brand new interview with make-up effects artist Giannetto de Rossi, filmed in 2020 Archive interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim, filmed in 2003 Archive interview with star Paul Smith, filmed in 2008 Archive interview with make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker *** EXTRAS STILL IN PRODUCTION AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE ***

  • 4K Ultra HD - The Premiere Collection [Blu-ray] [2016]4K Ultra HD - The Premiere Collection | 4K UHD | (10/10/2016) from £33.99   |  Saving you £90.00 (264.78%)   |  RRP £123.99

    4K Ultra UHD The Premiere Collection Synopsis Introducing 4K Ultra HD The Premiere Collection. 4 Times Sharper than HD. Offers Brilliant Brights and Deepest Darks with HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Wider Colour Spectrum adding Dazzling Colours to your viewing experience. Containing 6 incredible films that will ensure your experience 4K Ultra HD to the fullest including: The Revenant Inspired by true events, The Revenant is an epic story of survival and transformation on the American frontier. While on an expedition into the uncharted wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally mauled by a bear, then abandoned by members of his own hunting team. Alone and near death, Glass refuses to succumb. Driven by sheer will and his love for his Native American wife and son, he undertakes a 200-mile odyssey through the vast and untamed West on the trail of the man who betrayed him: John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). What begins as a relentless quest for revenge becomes a heroic saga against all odds towards home and redemption. The Revenant is directed, produced and co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Kingsman: The Secret Service A super-secret organisation recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a dire global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. A phenomenal cast, Including Academy Award Winners Colin Firth and Michael Caine and Oscar Nominee Samuel L. Jackson, leads this action-packed spy-thriller directed by Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class and Kick-Ass) Life of Pi Embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this visual masterpiece from Oscar Winner Ang Lee, based on the best-selling novel. After a cataclysmic shipwreck, an Indian boy named Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious Bengal tiger. Together, they face nature's majestic grandeur and fury on an epic journey of discovery. The Maze Runner In this heart-pounding survival thriller based on the best-selling novel, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien of MTV's Teen Wolf ) wakes up trapped in a massive, ever-changing maze with a group of boys who have no memory of the outside world. Facing dangerous obstacles at every turn especially the deadly Grievers that roam the concrete corridors at night Thomas and the others must race to piece together clues in order to discover their true purpose and find a way out before it's too late! Independence Day Twenty years after mysterious aliens nearly wiped out humankind, they're back with a vengeance in the explosive sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence! Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth developed a vast defence program to protect the planet. But nothing could prepare us for the next invasionand only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can save our world from extinction! Exodus: Gods and Kings From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus) comes Exodus: Gods and Kings, the epic tale of one man's daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state-of-the-art visual effects, this spectacular adventure brings new life to the story of Moses(Christian Bale) as he defies the Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton), setting 400,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

  • Shutter Island [Blu-ray] [2009]Shutter Island | Blu Ray | (02/08/2010) from £7.99   |  Saving you £19.00 (237.80%)   |  RRP £26.99

    Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese (The Departed) once again teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond) in this spine-chilling thriller that critics say sizzles with so much suspense that it's hot to the touch. When U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) arrives at the asylum for the criminally insane on Shutter Island what starts as a routine investigation quickly takes a sinister turn. As the investigation unfolds and Teddy uncovers more shocking and terrifying truths about the island he learns there are some places that never let you go.

  • Titanic Remastered Special Edition 4K Ultra HD [Blu-ray] [Region Free]Titanic Remastered Special Edition 4K Ultra HD | Blu Ray | (29/04/2024) from £69.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated Titanic.Collectors Edition Deluxe Set includes:Exclusive perfect bound hardcover coffee table bookExclusive detailed ship schematicCollectible reproduction movie prop premiumsSheet musicTitanic Remastered in 4K Ultra HDProduct FeaturesTITANIC: Stories From the Heart - NEW!, TITANIC: 25 Years Later with James Cameron, Behind-the Scenes presentation hosted by Jon Landau - NEW!, Trailer Presentation hosted by Jon Landau - NEW!, Fan Poster Art - NEW!, Reflections on TITANIC (4 parts), Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by James Cameron, Additional Behind-the-Scenes, Deep-Dive Presentation narrated by James Cameron, $200,000,001: A Ship's Odyssey (The TITANIC Crew Video), Videomatics, Visual Effects, Music Video My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, Still Galleries, Director Commentary by James Cameron, Cast and Crew Commentary, Historical Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall.

  • This Boy's Life [1993]This Boy's Life | DVD | (21/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

    Robert De Niro gets top billing, but young Leonardo DiCaprio is the revelation of This Boy's Life, an astute, often painful drama of growing up in the 1950s Pacific Northwest, based on the autobiographical novel by Tobias Wolff. DiCaprio plays Tobias, a good kid with a bad boy streak but an unwavering love for his divorced mother (Ellen Barkin). "I want to be a better boy", he promises from under a greasy pompadour, and tries to prove it when she marries single father Dwight (DeNiro), a bully who parents through intimidation and humiliation. A pre-Titanic DiCaprio is magnetic in his first starring role, full of anger, hope and confusion as he drifts back to juvenile delinquency and his intensity gives the true story of survival and triumph its charge. DeNiro is frightening and pathetic as Dwight, and Dwight's youngest daughter is played by future star and vampire slayer Eliza Dushku. --Sean Axmaker

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