For the last year or so, I've had my freshman writing classes read the Tobias Wolff memoir, "This Boys Life". A lot of them always think they can get away with watching the movie on cable instead, but of course (as with most movies based on books), much is missed in the screen version of this true story. The film would have you believe that young Toby is a loveable brat who fancies trouble, but the book tells of a more complex and disturbed child--one who has a rich imagination, and is essentially kind (especially to his mother), but who lies consistently and refuses to accept his own faults. Dwight is portrayed well in the film as a mean and immature man, but the movie fails to show how Toby himself paralells Dwight: they are both liars, for one; and Dwight's insistence on "molding" Toby make one wonder...Throughout the book, Toby's greatest danger at the hands of his step-father is the possibility that Dwight will succeed in turning Toby into him.
There are other things that the movie tries to work in, but does so awkwardly: Toby's friendship with Arthur, the gay boyscout, is one. As is Toby's desire to "get away" from the abusive Dwight (in the book, Toby doesn't so much want to get away from Dwight as he does want to run away and go on great swashbuckling adventures). The worst injustice on the movie's part is the ending, of course. It is completely hollywood.
The movie is enjoyable for its performances (especially DeNiros'), but viewers should realize that the "True Story" behind this movie has been given the hollywood golden touch.
