The film going audience out there must be fascinated with biopics--so much so that Hollywood has heaped a plethora of them on us for many years now. I can remember back in the 1960's, '70's and even 80's where the number of biopics was extremely small as compared by today's standards. Many of them are quality films which is why I don't mind seeing them, but anything good can wear on someone. So now we have "Beautiful Boy" in the offing to learn, once again, about an individual ,and in that, be better people for it.
Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff respectively, this story chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.
Nic Sheff (Timothee Chalamet) had it all: good health, popularity, was on the polo team, has loving parents. So why did this seemingly intelligent, well-rounded individual even attempt to try meth? This 18-year-old simply started deteriorating before his family including father David Sheff (Steve Carell), stepmother Karen Barbour (Maura Tierney), Jasper Sheff (Christian Convery) and Daisy Sheff (Oakley Bull) and his family was at odds to what to do with him. Once he agrees to get into rehab, he's back and forth with sobriety which compounds the family's frustration. However, even though the family goes through their own hell along with Nic, they still support Nic as much as they can which ultimately brings hope to the troubled youth.
Others to round out the cast are Amy Ryan as Vicki Sheff, Nic's mother, Kaitlyn Dever as Lauren, Andre Royo as Spencer, Ricky Low as Destiny, Amy Forsyth as Diane, Julian Works as Gack and Stefanie Scott as Julia.
This was intensely and brilliantly directed by Felix Van Groeningen ("Steve + Sky" '04, "With Friends Like These" '07, "The Misfortunates" '09, "The Broken Circle Breakdown" '12, "Belgica" '16) plus a short. Obviously both Carell and Chalamet are talented actors, but it takes a truly gifted director to be able to showcase the emotions, whether over-the-top or subtle, of these characters through his actors. Family dysfunction is something Hollywood has delved into before, however this filmmaker brought out the nuances needed to make this film painstakingly realistic. It was equally well written by Luke Davies ("Candy" '06, "Reclaim" '14, "Life" '15, "Lion" '16) plus a short and Van Groeningen ("With Friends Like These" '07, "The Misfortunates" '09, "Belgica" '16) plus a short, which is based on the books "Beautiful Boy" by David Sheff and "Tweak" by Nic Sheff. Again, the nuances that were used, made this subject matter, usually tritely written, fresher and original. I remember watching 1979's "Kramer vs. Kramer" and being in awe of it because of its writing. That film was about a subject matter that had been represented in numerous of films, but the writing made it the film it was. This is the sign of talented writing when the subject matter has been written about many times and it doesn't appear that way. I see Academy Award nominations written all over this one: best film, writing, actor and supporting actor. Only time will tell.
Truly we are in the end of the year film season where Hollywood brings out the big guns with their best of the best of films, and with this, we are the victors for it. Will this film win any awards? Not sure, but it will certainly give its competition a run for their money.
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 120mins.
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