This Boy's Life (1993)

What is the Movie This Boy’s Life About?

This Boy’s Life is a biographical film about Tobias Wolff, an American novelist. It is set during the 1950s and depicts several years of his childhood, where he and his mother were subjected to domestic abuse from his stepfather.

Our Honest Review of This Boy’s Life

This Boy’s Life is a tough watch, but a rewarding one. It’s also a must-watch for Leonardo DiCaprio fans, as this was the film that kick-started his Hollywood career. He is terrific in his lead role and perfectly captures the seething rage of an abused teen. There are moments in this film where you can tell what he’s feeling just from the look in his eyes; it’s no wonder he went on to become a megastar. 

It’s not a one-man show, and a reliably strong cast supports him. Robert De Niro puts in one of his most underrated roles as the stepfather from hell, while Ellen Barkin and Jonah Blechman flesh things out admirably. It’s DiCaprio’s movie though, and it’s a compelling, if occasionally brutal experience. 

What Do the Critics Think of This Boy’s Life?

This Boy’s Life was generally well-reviewed, although a few critics were a bit restrained in their praise. It holds a 76% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

• “The beauty of This Boy's Life is in the details: this meticulously observed story gets the look of the late '50s down pat and, more important, captures the dissonance between the era's ideals of nuclear-family life and painfully deracinated reality.” - David Ansen, Newsweek.

• “This Boy's Life is so steeped in period detail (music, cars, television shows, hair styles) that Toby and Caroline's sad, bumbling search for freedom seems secondary, almost impolite to the decor.” - Vincent Canby, New York Times.

• “The leads work overtime to make their characters and their relationships pungent, believable, and moving.” - Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader.

• “A young DiCaprio steals the show in this tale of learning how to be a man, with a sly De Niro also giving a good performance, but with a plot that drags on too long.” - Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine. 

What Awards and Nominations did This Boy’s Life Receive?

We were surprised when researching this. This Boy’s Life is an excellent film, but we couldn’t find many awards it was nominated for. Those we identified were all for the young Leonardo DiCaprio, including:

• Most Promising Actor at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (won).
• New Generation Award at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (won). 
• Best Supporting Actor at the National Society of Film Critics Awards.
• Best Supporting Actor at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. 
• Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Drama at the Young Artist Awards. 

Director & Cast of This Boy’s Life

Fun Facts About This Boy’s Life

• Christian Bale auditioned for Tobias Wolff but lost to DiCaprio. Years later, DiCaprio would drop out of American Psycho (2000) and be replaced by Bale. 

• The film was Tobey Maguire’s first speaking and credited role.

• This was the first acting collaboration of Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the others being Marvin’s Room (1996) and Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023). Both actors would also be widely associated with director Martin Scorsese.

• Producer Art Linson was anxious about the film’s prospects because of the child abuse themes. He was reassured at a test screening when he asked an elderly lady for her thoughts and she said she loved it. He later discovered that she was Robert De Niro’s grandmother. 

Themes of This Boy’s Life

This Boy’s Life is a coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of small-town life in the fifties. The central theme is of domestic abuse, and as such, it can be a harrowing watch. The character of Dwight Hansen mistreats both his wife and stepson, and young Tobias’s desire to escape drives the narrative. 

It raises questions about familial loyalty and resilience, as well as the potential for trauma to develop into a cycle of violence; there’s a scene where Tobias’s friend Arthur accuses him of behaving like his stepfather. 

How Does This Boy’s Life Compare to Michael Caton-Jones’s Other Work?

Frankly, This Boy’s Life doesn’t have much in common with his other films. Michael Caton-Jones' earlier work included the war film Memphis Belle (1990) and the comedy Doc Hollywood (1991), but This Boy’s Life was more down-to-earth and gritty. 

Later in his career, he directed the film that one of our developers described as “Braveheart without Braveheart”, 1995’s Rob Roy, and the stupid-but-entertaining Basic Instinct 2 (2006). None of his works share many similarities with This Boy’s Life, and only his 2015 movie Urban Film tackles subjects close to it. 

Iconic Scenes from A Time To Kill

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• Tobey Maguire was friends with Leonardo DiCaprio before the production started. He auditioned for the lead role, and when he didn’t get the part, DiCaprio was able to get him the supporting role of Chuck Bolger.

• Leonardo DiCaprio had to slouch in a few scenes when acting next to Robert De Niro. He had grown a few inches during filming, so he had to disguise his increased height.

• Tobias Wolff’s older brother is actually called Geoffrey Wolff, not Gregory.

• Warner Bros were reluctant to green-light the project due to the film’s content, but director Michael Caton-Jones was determined to get it made. The studio relented due to his proven track record.

What’s the Soundtrack Like for This Boy’s Life?

In keeping with the film’s setting in the 1950s, the soundtrack features a lot of period-specific songs and early rock ‘n’ roll classics. There are songs by Eddie Cochran and Link Wray, and it has a deliberately retro vibe.

Considering the dark subject matter, it’s also surprisingly upbeat. The young Tobias Wolff used music as a form of escape from his growing pains, and consequently, it’s not half as bleak as we were prepared for.

Best Quotes from This Boy’s Life

• “You can dream of a moment for years and still somehow miss it when it comes. You've got to reach through the flames and take it, or lose it forever. I took it. So did my mother. We never looked back.” - Tobias Wolff narrates his life story.

• “What about me? What about me? When is it ever Dwight's turn for some consideration? What about me? I'll tell you one thing: You'll remember me!” - Dwight Hansen tries to twist reality and make himself into a victim.

• “Sometimes I had to blame somebody; she was the only one there.” - Tobias Wolff explores his difficult relationship with his mother.

• “Dwight said I had as much chance of passing the test as he had of farting his way through the star spangled banner.” - Tobias describes the dispiriting feedback that his stepfather gave him.
  
• “I don't have a dad. I never did. I sprang full-blown from my mother's imagination.” - Tobias’s friend Arthur Gayle explains how he came to be.

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