This film is based on the autobiographical novel by the same name written by Jim Carroll.
The person Jim talks to in the underground drug den is played by the real Jim Carroll.
There is a popular misconception holds that River Phoenix was set to play the lead before tragically dying on the Los Angeles sidewalk. This is not entirely accurate. Phoenix was a big fan of the book, and as the film version entered various stages of readiness, he was always the front runner. However, prior to his death, he had declined the role, due to a combination of feeling he was too old to play a fifteen year old, and trying to broaden his range with more adult roles.
The Basketball Diaries 1995
21 Apr 1995 ● English ● 1 hr 42 mins
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