This Boy's Life

He looked like the ideal husband. He seemed like the perfect father. That's just what they needed. But that's not what they got.

7.1
19931h 55m

When a son and mother move to Seattle in hopes for a better life, the mother meets a seemingly polite man. Things go south when the man turns out to be abusive, endangering their lives. As the mother struggles to maintain hope in an impossible situation, the son has plans to escape.

Production

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: This Boy's Life (1993) Official Trailer - Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio Movie HD

This Boy's Life (1993) Official Trailer - Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio Movie HD

Cast

Photo of Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Dwight Hansen

Photo of Ellen Barkin

Ellen Barkin

Caroline Wolff Hansen

Photo of Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Tobias Wolff

Photo of Jonah Blechman

Jonah Blechman

Arthur Gayle

Photo of Gerrit Graham

Gerrit Graham

Mr. Howard

Photo of Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

Chuck Bolger

Photo of Morgan Brayton

Morgan Brayton

Silver Sister #2

Photo of Frank C. Turner

Frank C. Turner

Truck Driver

Photo of Sean Murray

Sean Murray

Jimmy Voorhees

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Reviews

R

r96sk

8/10

'This Boy’s Life' manages to produce an impressive feat: making me hate Robert De Niro! His character here, that is. I've only seen the guy in likeable roles, 'Meet the Parents' is as close as a portrayal has come to being unlikeable. Dwight, in this, is despicable!

All the aforementioned is simply a plus point for the film, though. It's obviously not overly difficult to make a person garner hatred, but I do appreciate that we see how Dwight becomes the way he is - e.g. the shooting scene. It does get a touch repetitive at times, only minorly so.

Not only does this flick have De Niro, it also has one Leonardo DiCaprio - in his first leading movie role, no less. Both are excellent throughout, positives can too be remarked about Ellen Barkin's performance. Elsewhere, youthful Tobey Maguire and Carla Gugino also appear.

An uncomfortable watch, but it is a very good release from 1993.

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