THIS BOY'S LIFE (1993)

Cast

Plot

Powerful adaptation of Tobias Wolff's autobiographical story about growing up in backwoods Washington state under a tyrannical step-father. Teenage Toby (DiCaprio, fine throughout) and mom (Barkin) leave dad and big bro' back East and motor West with high hopes of a new life. First stop Utah offers evidence of mom's unerring eye for male suitors, which is confirmed when they hightail to Washington, where she accepts some old-fashioned courting from Dwight (De Niro). She marries only to discover, too late for escape, that Dwight is a tyrant. De Niro unfolds Dwight's brutish character by stages, and resists toppling into Cape Fear-style psychosis, but he's clearly driving in cruise gear. Memorable performances all round, in a superbly crafted drama.