What starts as youthful experimentation with pills and marijuana quickly spirals into a devastating heroin addiction. The film meticulously tracks Jim's loss of his basketball dreams, his expulsion from school, and his eventual life of crime and homelessness as he seeks his next fix. A Powerhouse Cast

: Portrays Jim's mother, providing the emotional weight of a parent watching their child slip away.

Directed by , the film is perhaps best remembered for the raw, career-defining performance by DiCaprio.