Movie Review: BEAUTIFUL BOY
By Yevette Renee
October 11, 2018
Director: Felix Van Groeningen
Screenwriters: Luke Davies, Felix Van Groeningen
Cast: Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan
Genre: Drama
When The Unconditional Love and Support of a Father is Not Enough
Director Felix Van Groeningen’s first English language film “Beautiful Boy” brings to the screen the love and struggles in David Sheff’s memoir Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by his son Nic Sheff.
David Sheff (Steve Carell) had a strong male presence in his son, Nic’s (Timothée Chalamet ) life and was his primary custodial parent, yet even with unwavering guidance and economic security, it still was not enough to prevent Nic from succumbing drugs and alcohol which leads to his downward spiral and the vicious cycle of overcoming his drug and alcohol dependency.
People will often say “It’s my life and I can do as I please.” We are all aware of a person’s freedom of choice, yet what they fail to realize is that they are not suffering through it alone. As evident in the pain experienced by David, every day as he makes it his mission to learn and help his son, his wife Karen Barbour (Maura Tierney) as she does all she can to keep her family together, and their two kids Jasper (Christian Convey) and Daisy (Oakley Bull) who have to deal with their big brother no longer being present for family activities and the conversations that must be had because of Nic resorting to theft to feed his addition..
Beautiful Boy gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who struggle with a family member with a drug addictions while at the same time
Release date
September 7, 2018 (TIFF)
October 12, 2018 (United States)
Opens: October 12, 2018
Runtime: 120 minutes
Production Company: Plan B Entertainment, Big Indie Pictures
Cast: Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan
Director: Felix Van Groeningen
Screenwriters: Luke Davies, Felix Van Groeningen
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt
Executive Producer: Sarah Esberg, Nan Morales
Based on Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff
Cinematography: Ruben Impens
Production designer: Ethan Tobman
Costume Designer: Emma Potter
Art Director: Patrick M. Sullivan Jr.
Set Decorator Jennifer Lukehart
Editor: Nico Leunen
Casting Director: Francine Maisler
Distributed by Amazon Studios