This Boy's Life

This Boy's Life (1993) starring Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, Leonardo DiCaprio. Based on Tobias Wolff's autobiography, this movie tells the story of Toby (DiCaprio), a boy who does battle with his abusive stepfather (De Niro). Toby's mother, Caroline (Barkin), is an optimistic spirit who eventually runs out of energy to move on and settles on Dwight (De Niro), a mean-spirited, even depraved man who courts her nicely and then turns abusive. The film is compulsively watchable, and all in the cast deliver fine performances. (Subtitles are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: A