Amazing film! First saw it when I was 12, loved it at first sight. It's a very realistic look at what drug addiction can do to a person, it completely changes who you are. Jim (Leo) had a passion for basketball, he joined a school team and even played it in his spare time with his friends, until one dose of heroin took over his life living on the streets of New York. If you don't like sports movies or think it's all about basketball, it's not. Only a few scenes of basketball are shown and the rest is pure drama. It's amazing what people will do to get drugs, who they will hurt and how far they'll go to get their next fix. Leo is simply an amazing actor! Lots and lots of teen violence, one off-screen sex scene followed by lots of prostitution and off-screen sexual acts as well as Jim and a friend watching a nearly naked woman dance. The language is very strong. It's good for young viewers to see what can happen even just your first time trying a drug, but it's also very intense - so know your child first before letting them see it.