4. The Basketball Diaries (1995)
Based on poet Jim Carroll's memoirs, The Basketball Diaries is a harrowing account of how he descended into the world of hardcore heroin addiction. Carroll was part of a seemingly unbeatable High School basketball team and the basketball court is what his life consists of. His best friend is dying of leukaemia and nasty influences of heroin and cocaine come into his life, threatening his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Carroll takes to life on the street to escape his mother's worry about him and also to steal things to pay for heroin. Things get so bad for Jim, that he prostitutes himself. Thankfully with the help of Reggie, a neighbour, he begins the long fight back to sanity. This includes jail time and a spell in hospital. Carroll bravely speaks out a talk show about his past addictions. A very courageous and honest portrayal of heroin addiction, the film makes you look at a bunch of young, talented basketball playing kids who are throwing their lives away on junk. It is such a needless waste of youth and potential, it is very depressing for the viewer to watch. The film doesn't spare you the horrors of withdrawal, life on the street, stealing and hustling - they are all convincingly rendered on the screen. Leonardo Di Caprio gives an amazing performance in the film as a young kid going through hell. You are unlikely to ever touch heroin after watching this film, because the movie depicts life on heroin as so darn unpleasant.