3.4 Beautiful Boy

The American Biographical Drama, Beautiful Boy marks director, Felix van Groningen's first English-language feature debut, in a screenplay co-written alongside Australian writer Luke Davies. Based upon two memoires titled Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines, written by Nic Sheff. The film, subsequently titled after John Lennon's song about his son, details the grim and often raw reality of being a parent whose addicted son gradually transforms and becomes someone he can barely recognise, let alone ever reason with no more. Often some films can be difficult to recommend, not due to them being bad, but rather that there presenting such harsh realities that often are just too consuming and upsetting, for some to watch. It's a straining challenge for the audience's to stomach, as we see the gradually development of a bright young boy, lean into his crueler instinct's, becoming a man we don't just recognise but at times a man we don't really like no more. With an intense and intoxicating amount of emotional pressure bombarded upon both it's characters and watching audiences alike, to a certain point that you begin to start guilt when recommending it to such people. Whilst rather it's true, underlying theme is the bitterly raw and sour relationship it depicts between both a father and son, as not only there love but also there mental strength is pushed to the very limits. In a seemingly tough and disgruntled portrayal of drugs, that gradually presents a seemingly no-win situation.

This deeply moving, insightful and honestly captivating drama, observes the delicate intricacies about a dad whose son has become addicted to crystal meth. With high-flying writer and journalist, David Sheff, played by Steve Carell becoming although too consumed by his son's mishaps and intoxicating lifestyle. As rather than often feeling edgy or unsettling, Beautiful Boy becomes a deeply moving and meaningful piece, that genuinely affected me dearly. Often transcending and fallen into an even darker oblivion, it's grim and raw subject matter, details the very sensitive issues around not only drug addiction, but rather also the subsequent strain and ever lasting effect it has on those around.

While the story initially picks up, introducing us to writer and now free-lance journalist, David Sheff. Who's teenage son Nic has gone missing. As once on his return, two days later it's clear that such drug abuse has been apparent. For a boy who's seemingly got good grades, a comfortable home, and goodish looks. It's when Nic's addiction starts to take hold, that things begin to turn south quickly. As his addiction to crystal meth threatens to destroy him and everyone, as his desperate father does whatever he can, often scarifying his other children and marriage to save his son. Whilst often, the film became rather very truly and honestly moving, as it stands as a portrayal not about not about the life and raw realties of drug addiction, but rather instead the desperate despair of a father, who's gradually losing touch and faith with his son. It's often as equally gripping as it is harrowing, as such grim and harsh relites are confronted head on, as Nic descends even further into a life of addiction and despair.

Shot from often the view of the father David, it essentially offers his perspective and how best he fights and deal with such tormenting emotional pain. Although such a design might make it better suited for older generations, many will be able to relate to David's lack of knowledge and understanding. As so very often Steve Carell's character has become totally out of his depth. As ordinarily Nic's dad David, can't seem to come to terms with his is son's struggles and inevitably what his son has become. Even confessing his bewilderment after seeking council about his relentless lack of understanding and knowledge on such potent and relevant issues. While often remaining true to what best he knows and understands, Sheff tailors such an educated about addiction through a tailored way, that best suits him. As he puts to practise his investigative journalistic skills, to try to paint a slightly clearer picture into his son's condition. He studies and analyses the subsequent science behind addition, which offers some insight and possible reasoning into why he continues to take drugs. Rather than why he began in the first place. As such a journey takes him through some truly raw and honestly tough realities, that soon enough hit home hard. Until he resorts to believing that such kindness, time, hard work and patience can finally set his son free. Played by a rational reasoned and understanding Carell, he often is rational in the extreme but also can't help but seems quite weak and naïve in his approach. Which only ever seems to feed into his delusion, as he's unable to adapt and live with his son's mistakes.

As Although David may be divorced and subsequently re-married, this such event never seems to be the sore reasons for his sons patterned abuse. Instead his second wife, Karen seems to care deeply for Nic. As if he was one of her own, which was both a very surprising yet refreshing look into there complex relationship. Whilst there is no record of abuse or trauma, as rather such flashbacks are used to paint a rather happy and enjoyable childhood. One such filled with such love and affection as he's doe-eyed and an adorable child, unwavering and spoilt in his fathers affection. With such a structured style and narrative being somewhat astounding and equally gripping, as such pieces that have followed and been seen before. Seemingly can't help but use trauma and possible a tough upbringing to explain such patterned, destructive behaviour. As if they believe audiences need a reason. Instead in Beautiful Boy, we're never given a reason because we don't need one let alone deserve one. As well as and due to the fact that such an explanation would steer away from the films core, beating themes and focus. Which are his eventual relationship with his father. As at first, taking drugs was seemingly a simple way to enjoy and escape to an instant moment of euphoria.

As it's rather a surprising and refreshing stance on such matters. With it the first film I've seen where addiction has been confronted and seen as the main problem in such middle class families. It acts somewhat of a relief that both co-writers don't lean into both there and story at hands, crueler instincts. As rather than simply delivering more conventional family melodramas, both of them alike don't ever decided to reach for the usual cod psychological explanations for Nic’s addiction. With them seemingly realising such an explanation both won't mean anything but most importantly surely won't save him. As myself was led to believe and left understanding that such things sometimes are best left unexplained. While the film instead depicts such issues of addiction, from a boy seemingly born into comfort and privilege, as it poses an often difficult and all to consuming riddle for audiences to solve. With Nic being a popular, good looking and educated boy, who's accepted into every subsequent college he applied to. With him seemingly looking forward to the rest of his life, while such a riddle is never truly solved. As some scientifical and medically solutions are all that can be truthfully offered, with it rather just acknowledging the intricate complexities as it's often too impossible to solve. Being and acting therefore as the such core reason for why Nic had been led down such a self-destructive path in the first place.

This conflicting and often complex dilemma, is only ever strengthened by the masterful and truly clever casting of Timothée Chalamet. As the young actor best known for his work on Call Me by Your Name and Dune, has such a natural charm and likability that seeps through the frame. With him able to perfectly and expertly depict such genuine, raw emotions that feel somewhat refreshing and compelling. His often destructive patterns and behavior are always so detailed and precisely thought out. As he still is able to build and engage with audiences curiosity as well as even there sympathy. In his charter's truly darkest moments of greed and selfishness. With his character Nic displays some truly relatable insecurities and concerns often young teenagers have to deal with, though it's best how he comes to terms with such problems that makes for a truly honest and equally compelling watch. He's a bit of rebel, constantly loitering along the edge of both danger and senile, as he can be at his best during moments spent with children and family. While he makes for some wholesome and often excellent company. Making when such moments of pure greed and egotism do kick in, for an even tougher and harsher watch. As the audiences and his family alike can often feel guilty for letting his abusive behaviour continue, until both us and the protagonists alike realise he's a man truly beyond reason.

With him only ever truly hurting himself and simultaneously his chances out of addiction, when he falls back into the such cycle of abuse and destruction. As when during moments where he steals from his siblings piggy banks, we soon come to realise it's himself he seems to truly hurt the most. While still dealing with the conflicted emotions of feeling ashamed when using sed drugs, but also sill understanding the more he takes, the less time he can spend facing and confronting his shame. Whilst instead it's his dad and us the audiences who have take and face such shame and guilt.

It's an intoxicating effectiveness, that can be largely credited and is down to Timothée Chalamet's performance and portrayal as Nic, one so painfully true and convincing it bounds not limits. As well as some following and subsequent award-season attention. With so often his vulnerability and brittleness clashing and conflicting with his ferociously strong, independence. That can't help but gradually lure him back in the resisting and intoxicating clutches of crystal meth. As such scenes when all to much of his self-destructive descent is on show, can go tumbling down from cockiness to an instant state of self-awareness and guilt. It's seemingly both captivating and equally astonishing that on reflection has you totally absorbed by the sheer rawness and complete naturalism.

Whilst this impressively intimate and honest drama, gives Steve Carell the arguably toughest job throughout, as he often is tasked with subtly displaying such struggles and despair at gradually losing his beloved son. While simultaneously remaining strong as he often has to perceive put his own issues and family aside, in focus for his son's needs. Its a restraining and difficulty task that Carell depicts absolutely beautifully. In terms of not only the role itself, but rather also when it comes to holding is own alongside and against Timothée Chalamet. As such views and perspectives interchange and shift throughout, with David's view dominating throughout, as well as offering some much needed honesty. While he struggles with both conflicting confusion and frustration at the idea that relapse is a part of recovery. Referring back to the idea that crashing somehow isn't apart of pilot training. Serving as an unwelcomed reminder that sobriety is not easily obtained, it’s the result of oppressively hard work.

Whereas it's in some instant moments of honesty and brutal destruction, that truly unearths his character underlying and hidden morals. As some brutal realities and self-examinations are what truly flesh out his characters true feelings. Whilst his performance is only ever further aided and strengthened by director, Felix van Groningen's structed and often fractured narrative. As it's timeline often switches not only perspectives but rather also in-between flashbacks, that subsequently continues to haunt David to sudden, happier times.

These flashbacks rather than offer us some explanation to why Nic has fallen down such a patterned hole and oblivion of abuse, they rather instead focus and only ever seemingly strengthening the idea of how best sometimes addiction doesn't and can't offer any answers. As such happier times surfing with his dad and listening to Nirvana only ever intoxicate audiences in an instant state of bewilderment. As it's an extremely potent and effective device that accentuates David's confusion and agonising pain.

As from the very beginning moment of the film there's a refreshingly matter-of-fact quality to the film, as it's often brutally honest in it's execution. As such acting and uncomfortable truths are sorely integrated to state it's clear and potent intent. With Felix Van Groeningen's narrative structure working best, when confronted with such raw and addictive realties, as we get so almost flick between David's unrelentless confusion and anger surrounding his son's decision to choose rehab over college and some earlier, much happier times between the par. As the film is never afraid to unmasked and portray that characters true weaknesses and flaws. As if such a process is needed for everyone alike to come to terms with what they've done.

If's an often difficult, messy and cluster of embarrassment, fear and most importantly failure that reminds us, if not installs in us a belief that no one is truly ready to cope with such harrowing realities. While when more emotional investment such truths can feel so often damaging and intense for both the protagonists and audience alike.

His memories can often be relentlessly cruel and force David into a contained and intoxicated torture, wondering and pondering if still, his son's addiction is somehow his fault. Whilst when replaying happier times, he's poisoned by such times that seemingly can't give him any answers and rather instead just strengthen the such torture and pain he's enduing. These heartbreaking yet wholesome interludes, further just heighten the aching and arching responsibility of parenthood and the worries commonly associated with it, as both it's limitations and boundaries are pushed to the very edge of reason. The Film like David alike both equally accept only so much can be done, it's terrifying and harrowing realisation, when we see David finally give in. As some parents who wanted to desperately save their children, soon realised they were already grieving for them, before they were gone. As so often instead of creating and offering audiences a familiar, family affair, that only ever seemingly adds to Nic's destructive behaviour. The film is never judgemental or deeply opinionated, as rather director Felix van Groeningen is far more interest and consumed by the idea of deeply probing into the psychology and profound effects such a lifestyle has on our two tortured protagonists. Instead of just delivering such conventional and expected ups and downs, such a piece might of previously offered. With the film having a deliberate and effective open-ended quality, allowing for plenty of honest and as equally meaningful formulation of answers.

Whilst so often the themes and intricacies surrounding dealing with addiction and confronting it's long road to recovery, have become an all to familiar and yet still a truly unimaginably and challenging process. As yet too often, on-screen films that tackle such controversial subject matter can struggle to convey how truly difficult such a road back to freedom and life away from the clutches of addiction can be. Such a journey is often a grim, harsh endurance that undeniably emotional and severely hard-hitting, as such themes are depicted with a natural, authentic tone that is truly haunting and scarring at times. However it's this brutal honestly that made me subtly thankful, as instead it gave a much raw and real depiction of what not only drug abuse is like and the subsequently effects on family. But rather also how the long road to recovery, is often filled with hurdles and failures along the way.

One such aspect however of Beautiful Boy, that occasionally rankles and feels slightly conflicted is in the cosy affluences of David Sheff's world. As his home in the woods, feels somewhat like something from Sunday supplement. While being originally based in California, he seemingly is able to have such time and money to drive and travel across the country to bail Nic out. Personally it was such a technique that only ever fed into David's naïve instincts as well as Nic's destructive behaviour and his understanding he can, at times continue to use his father and take him for advantage. As such time is often deeply and heavily invested into the father and son relationship. That so often such fierce themes leave little time left, to pay any extra attention to Nic's mother and step-mother. This felt kind of underwhelming due to the fact that Amy Ryan stars as Vicki, his mother. As it would of been a welcomed addition to see more time invested into investigating how she took and approached her son's addiction. As such a potent focus can often steer away, from some much desired screen time from both seemingly sidelined and lumbering Amy Ryan and Maura Tierney. As such they seem to just offer some passive support for both David and Nic alike. Which you honestly, until David's very moment on relinquish, you feel doesn't have an astounding effect. As so often the characters themselves have to realise instead of being told that such behavior is unacceptable and has it's eventual limits. Although such protagonists and actors alike are given such moments to shine, you can't but feel that there often underwritten in otherwise impressively intimate drama which dares to portray the very limits of parental love.

Whilst so often such a decision can be warranted, especially when the Chemistry between two leads Carell and Chalamet is just as equally intoxicating and consuming as the very drugs Timothée Chalamet's character Nic resorts to pummelling into his very body. Although some viewers have shared there thoughts, on how the film positioned such themes with a person primarily from privilege. I often felt, instead of giving and creating such a distant and at times unfamiliar tone. It gave the piece some much needed depth, that sorely sets it's apart from any offer subsequent Drama, as such emotional turmoil is depicted. Making us honestly understand, how such abuse can destroy and effect anyone, as the story gradually comes as equally raw and gripping, whilst remaining truthfully disturbing.

With Timothée Chalamet having a certain screen presence, that beautifully and subtly suits such a piece, as he collides perfectly alongside Steve Carell, Who away from comedy, is allowed to truly portray his ability to create some truly meaningful and deeply compelling performances. As his protagonist is constantly conflicted beyond reason, as he seemingly+ searches for reasoning and answer's that don't exist.

While so often, in his first feature length, English language debut, the Flemish director works once again alongside his regular collaborators in cinematographer Ruben Impens and editor Nico Leunen. As although he has Pitt as a producer and some truly major stars to play out such a piece, he takes a somewhat intricate, compelling and unrelentingly intense approach when depicting such characters and there issues. It has a surprising poetic feeling that feels equally refreshing than it's raw emotions and depictions of addiction. Reminding us continuously that addiction is a disease. While there's often a sense on underling mystery and intrigue that simply is both never solved, nor found in other films about subsequent drug abuse and recovery. Whilst at it's very core, Beautiful Boy is a deeply enthralling, complex and human drama, that is never afraid to offer some brutal honestly and truths, that are as equally hard to get out of your head. 4/5 Stars