when you say he starred with Robert DeNiro in a movie, I had to think of Basketball Diaries. To me, this movie also had a little resemblance to Sleepers, with Robert DeNiro as a father. In both movies, a group of young boys get things messed up.

this way we're getting a long way off-topic (originally started around "Gangs of New York") but I had to share it.. :p

By the way, also in "This Boy's Life" (1993): Tobey Maguire and Eliza Dushku, two young hot stars these days.