Ok, there aren't a lot of new, boy-related movies out right now that are catching my eye, so I've decided to go backwards and watch, or re-watch, some of my favorite older movies. Either that or I am revisiting some of my favorite boy actors, like I just did last night. Last night I watched a true classic called "This Boy's Life" starring none other than Leonardo DiCaprio along with Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin. DeCaprio must have been about 13 or 14 when he did this movie back in 93...I'm not sure about his age but it seems about right. In case you don't know the movie, it is set back in the late 1950's and is based on the true story about writer Tobias Wolf. It is the story about how a young boy survives an increasingly abusive step-father (brilliantly portrayed by De Niro). This movie is touching and wonderfully done all the way through. It is a breakthrough movie for DeCaprio and is simply amazing and moving to watch.

But not NEARLY as amazing as the OTHER movie he starred in that very same year! (I said this was going to be a double feature.)

Ok...want to see amazing? Then watch "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?"! What can I say, this movie is one of my all time favorites. It stars a young Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape and Leonardo DeCaprio as his mentally retarded younger brother, Arnie. It is a movie about carring, tenderness and self-awareness set in a fictional one street town somewhere in the mid west. To say that DeCaprio's performance is brilliant is almost an understatement. It is simply unbelievable and may very well be one of the all-time great performances by a young actor...let alone a new-comer young actor. If you haven't seen this movie, by all means rent it or buy it, it is a true treasure. In fact, pop up extra popcorn and watch both of these movies. It just boggles my mind that the young DeCaprio was able to star in both movies shot in the very same year...and turn out such brilliant performances in both!

Happy Viewing!