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Movies about addiction are typically incredibly difficult to watch, my mind always drifts to movies like Rachel Getting Married or in an extreme sense, Requiem for a Dream. Just brutal movies to get through, and Beautiful Boy seemed poised to take the next slot in that group of films. While it's not exactly as powerful as either of those films, it features to stellar performances, and one that should get Timothee Chalamet his second consecutive nod for best actor, unless of course they put him in as supporting. But it's his turn as a young adult addicted to Meth, among many many other drugs. And as I just said about 'Mid90s', this film (likely because it's directly based on two memoirs) feels entirely authentic. Something that can't always be said about Oscar bait movies like this one. And while at times the film feels jumbled and uneven, those performances are what keep you invested. Make no mistake, they are Oscar worthy material.

7.6/10

Based on a true story, this film reminds us that addiction is a disease which does not discriminate: it can hit anybody at any time. Indeed, Nic (Timothée Chalamet) does not fit the stereotype of a junkie: raised in a loving upper-middle-class family, he is a good student and shares a close relationship with his father, David (Steve Carell). However, drugs have been part of his life since the age of 12 (alcohol and marijuana at first). The turning point is when he becomes dependent on methamphetamine, at only 18 years old. From that moment on, Nic and his relatives get trapped in a downward spiral. Despite all the support they give him, they are unable to prevent relapses and fear losing him. This movie accurately describes the harmful effects of drugs on family life. It also explores the limits of parental love. Well directed and earnestly performed, « Beautiful boy » is a deeply human drama.

Should be mandatory viewing at all schools and drug reform programs. Excellent performances and extremely authentic portrayal of addiction and its damaging affects on family and self.

Based on the memoirs Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff, written for the screen by Luke Davies and Felix van Groeningen, and directed by van Groeningen in his English language debut, Beautiful Boy is a film about the horrors of addiction, told from the perspective of both an addict and his father. Focusing primarily on David's attempts to understand and fight against his son's addiction to crystal meth, the film aims for a no frills sans-sentimental authenticity (Davies is himself a former heroin addict, who based Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction on his experiences). Serving as something of a showcase for the two lead actors, (Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet, both of whom are exceptional), there's little in the way of plot, with the film instead adopting a non-linear cyclical structure designed to mirror the repetitive nature of addiction-rehab-relapse-addiction-rehab etc. And whilst it is certainly heartfelt and respectfully told, there's little in the way of emotional engagement.

Living in Marin County, Nic Sheff (Chalamet) is an intelligent, popular, and kind teenager, who has a close relationship with his father, David (Carell), his stepmother Karen (Maura Tierney), and his two younger half-siblings, Jasper (Christian Convery) and Daisy (Oakley Bull). He is less close to his birthmother Vicki (Amy Ryan), who moved to LA after she and David divorced. David is a journalist for the New York Times, and Karen is a painter, with the family enjoying a comfortable bohemian middle-class existence. The film begins as David attends the offices of a drug counsellor and psychologist, Dr. Brown (Timothy Hutton). Explaining that Nic has become addicted to crystal meth, he wants to learn everything he can about the drug in order to best help his son.

The most notable aspect of Beautiful Boy is the structure, which is both cyclical and non-linear - the film is made up of a series of high and lows following Nic and David through relapse and recovery, whilst at the same time, there are multiple flashbacks, with scenes in the present giving characters occasion to think about moments from the past. For example, as David sits in a diner waiting for Nic to arrive, he thinks back to a much happier meal he had with his son in that same diner many years previously. This technique is used throughout the film, often flashing back to happier memories of Nic's childhood. The problem with this is that it's overused; there's barely a scene that doesn't have some kind of temporal cutaway. This overuse also dulls the impact of such editing, as after 45 minutes, you're just yearning for the film to stay put for a while.

As regards the repetitive nature of the story, I understand what van Groeningen was going for - it is supposed to mirror the back and forth nature of addiction ("relapse is part of rehab" as David is told), a two steps forward, one step back staccato motion. However, the film falls into a pattern of Nic showing up looking a little more dishevelled than he did before, followed by David doing everything he can to help, followed by his failure to get through to Nic, followed by Nic disappearing, followed by Nic showing up looking a little more dishevelled than he did before, etc. And whilst this may lend itself to a certain authenticity, it doesn't make for very effective drama. In any case, other filmmakers have found ways to depict the repetitive nature of addiction without compromising the story, not the least of whom would be Darren Aronofsky in Réquiem para um Sonho (2000), who constantly uses a quick montage of the characters doing drugs to suggest the habitual nature of addiction.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the movie is that Nic is a prosperous and intelligent middle-class young man with a strong support system. He is a child of divorce, yes, but he has a good relationship with both of his parents. This is a far cry from the typical addict we see in film and TV, who are usually at the extreme ends of the monetary spectrum, either poverty-stricken and destitute (such as, say, Bubbles (Andre Royo) in A Escuta (2002)) or extremely wealthy and high-functioning (such as Caspar (Geoffrey Rush) in Candy (2006)). Nic first tried drugs to see what they were like, and when he liked how they made him feel, he kept on doing them. There was no precipitating event, no great emotional trauma which made him turn to narcotics; his addiction is just something that happened, a disease to which anyone could succumb

A major theme is that of the father-son relationship, and this is well-presented. With both actors giving superb performances, one really sees the bond between the two, and how much Nic's addiction is destroying both of them. In this sense, the real tragedy of his situation isn't the rehabs and relapses, it's seeing him drift further and further away from a man who would literally die to protect him. Given the source material, one does wonder a little if the relationship is idealised somewhat, but irrespective of that, Carell and Chalamet give a masterclass in acting.

With lesser performances, the film would have crumbled under the weight of van Groeningen's heavy-handed direction. Thankfully the performances are strong enough that the style distracts rather than undermines. That said, the benefit of the non-linear storytelling is that it allows Chalamet and Carell to really drive home how much their relationship changes, with their playful and happy earlier scenes contrasting heart-breakingly with the fraught and destructive times of later years. Chalamet's is the more physical of the two performances, conveying so much via his body language as he completely inhabits the character, alternating between playing Nic as a sweet, loving, almost immature teenager, and a stressed addict, old before his years, and capable of anything to get money for his next hit. When he is rehabbing, there's a regret and humility in his performance that is nowhere to be seen when he relapses, as he becomes more manic and unpredictable, and much less self-aware.

Carell, for his part, does most of his best work with his eyes, conveying the sadness and desperation he feels. His helplessness is written across his face, conveying how little he can actually do for his son. He initially approaches the problem in a logical manner (he does methodical research on crystal meth to better understand it, he snorts cocaine to try to put himself in Nic's shoes), before eventually realising there is no logic at play here, and tackling the subject as he would an article for the New York Times is not going to work. Carell plays David as confused, haunted, and desperate, with Nic's addiction having as profound a psychological effect on David as it has a physical effect on Nic.

Despite all of these positives, however, as indicated above, there are some significant problems. For one, van Groeningen chooses not to present some of the darker aspects of Nic's story. For example, he turned to prostitution at one point to fund his addiction. Additionally, as his hits from crystal meth continued to diminish over time, he started shooting it up, which is insanely dangerous. Leaving out aspects such as this gives the film a kind of sanitised feeling, as if we're looking at addiction through a gauze which the director refuses to pull back to let us see it directly. This kind of heart-breaking sordid detail would have helped the film immeasurably, especially in relation to its lack of emotional engagement.

This lack is probably the most egregious problem. A film of this nature, detailing something like this, and based on a true story, should be an emotional rollercoaster, but the audience is always removed, the emotions are seen rather than experienced, as if we're looking at the rollercoaster instead of riding it. Because the film introduces us to the characters mid-crisis, and because there's literally not a single scene that isn't either related to Nic's addiction, or a flashback from a scene related to his addiction, we never really get to know David or Nic outside this situation. Any sense we have of them as people comes almost entirely from the acting, and even then, although you certainly feel empathy and sympathy for them, you don't feel a huge amount else.

This dearth of characterisation is even more pronounced in relation to the two women, who may as well not be there. Karen has nothing to do but wander around in the background painting trees, whilst Vicki doesn't even get that much - she's a disembodied voice on the phone most of the time, and although I know she appeared in a couple of scenes, by the next day, I'd forgotten what she did in either of them. It's a real waste of two extremely talented performers.

There have been some truly great films about addiction; 007 Contra o Homem com a Pistola de Ouro (1974), Vício Maldito (1962), Os Viciados (1971), Drugstore Cowboy (1989), Trainspotting: Sem Limites (1996), Despedida em Las Vegas (1995), Diário de um Adolescente (1995), Requiem for a Dream. Beautiful Boy is absolutely nowhere near anything of this calibre. In fact, it's probably more successful as a kind of instructional installation for relatives of people going through addiction than it is as a film evoking emotions. Told from the perspective of people living through this nightmare, the story is incredibly straightforward and forgettable, when it should be shocking, disturbing, and emotionally devastating. And whilst the film is definitely heartfelt, its lack of emotional engagement, its repetitiveness, its distracting structure, its lack of a plot, all serve to grate against the incredible performances.

I am a heroin and meth addict with 3 years of sobriety. I currently work in a treatment center and I periodically show this movie in my groups, this movie is the best depiction I have ever seen of the life of addiction. It's heartbreaking to watch myself because it parallels my story very closely. The way addiction is shown is so raw and true, the overdoses, the shame, the guilt, the question of why that can never be answered. It's beautiful and heart wrenching, it's honestly not easy to watch but it is accurate (too a point, addicts know a few things that are a little wrong but that's small specifics) and the acting is phenomenal.

Timothee Chalamet gives an outstanding performance ans Steve Carell is right up there with him. Their emotions come through strongly and carry the story. Though unfortunately the story-line feels predictable. The flashbacks were more distracting than endearing. And those aspects hold the film back.

This film could have been bogged down with its flashbacks and some narrative cliches, but man do Carell and Chalamet's performances make this film soar. 9/10.

The best movie I have seen so far in 2018. It is heart-wrenching, compelling, emotionally raw, and authentic. The acting from Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell is strong and Oscar-worthy. Timothee is proving to be one of the best actors of his generation. It is a no-frills movie that illustrates the struggles and cyclical nature of destructive addiction, relapse, and recovery. It is beautifully directed and poignantly adapted from two memoirs. It also displays the emotional dynamic and turmoil of the father-son bond wonderfully. The cinematography is also top notch and captures the tone of the film. I am honestly baffled by some of the critic reviews. Beautiful Boy deserves a much higher rating. The film is honest and I empathized with the issues because the film explores the pain in such a real way. We witness how the addiction affects the entire family and how average people can be sucked into the black hole that drugs offers. It is relevant in this day and age to show the problems that relatable youth face. In most Hollywood films, we typically see the addiction melodramatically explored with individuals suffering from a specific trauma or living in abject poverty. In this film, we see the torment & despair of addiction powerfully & realistically explored within a middle-class family. Beautiful Boy is a must-see for everyone. It deserves Oscar nominations for Timothee Chalamet, adapted screenplay, cinematography, and directing. The entire cast is exceptional and should receive a SAG ensemble nomination. The movie is so much better than a number of the other acclaimed, flashy Oscar contenders of 2018. Beautiful Boy is candid and naturalistic. Not only does the audience get access to such fine artful filmmaking but also gets served with life lessons. There are a number of tear-jerking scenes and the pathos of it all, hit the core of my soul.

Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet are the main reasons to see this film. They bring some otherwise shaky material powerfully to life. Beautiful Boy definitely tries to elicit many emotional responses from its audience, but only succeeds some of the time. It doesn't end up being quite as impactful as I think it intends and it doesn't seem to really end up saying anything about drug addiction. The great performances by its two leads though help make this one worth watching.

This film tells the sombre story of a young man hooked on drugs, and how the family members cope with the tragedy.

The story is depressing and sombre, and gets you down. This aspect is distinctly different from "Ben Is Back" which I watched yesterday. The music is sombre, the shots are slow, and the interaction do not give much hope either. The acting is brilliant though. This film hopefully will serve as an alarm for anyone who wishes to try drugs.

Considering the acting talent on screen, this story should have been much more involving, much more affecting. But somehow it got turned into a repetitive dirge that keeps us at arm's length and teaches us nothing. At the end there's just a title card that says how bad the addiction epidemic is, how services are underfunded, and then tells you if you are struggling, ask for help. Duh.

Everyone on screen, the two real-life principals, and everyone struggling with addiction, all deserved better. But bravo to Carrell and Chalamet for some really fine acting.

If you're interested in the subject matter, this film is worth seeing. But no Oscar nominations.

Belgian Director Felix Van Groningen ("The Broken Circle" 2012 - Winner of multiple Film Festival Awards) brings the best selling pair of memories, "Beautiful Boy" by father David Sheff and "Tweak" by son Nic Sheff to the big screen with heart-wrenching perfection. Steve Carell steps into the role of David, a father willing and available to help his son through a period he can't understand. Timothy Chalamet ("Call Me by Your Name") is Nic, a young boy who appears to have it all, only to be dealing with a dark hole feed by drug addicition. The beauty of this film is that the story is told from both father and son perspectives. Nic writes about what was happening in his head and heart, while David writes what it was like to be a father looking in. Van Groningen's primary setting is a family cabin in the woods of San Francisco. Breathtaking in its appearance, surrounded by the forrest and a yard surely once filled with memorable family times, the interior is mysteriously gloomy and dark, warning the viewer something is wrong here. Cinematography (Ruben Impens), and the films eerie musical score, further cement the tense presented on screen, dropping the viewer into various SF locations that grab you and hold you down. Be for warned: The silence within this film is so powerful, that if you're eating popcorn, sipping on a beverage or your phone rings, you do any of these at your own risk. Yet, however strong this film is, something is missing here. The performance are above terrific and touching, the story is current and relevant, and the mothers (Maura Tierney "ER" and Amy Ryan "Birman") perspective is equally on point. Yet, I found myself unable to fully latch on to the characters in the manner that I'm sure the writers wanted. "Beautiful Boy" is a powerful movie going experience, and one that is hard to get out of your head.

1. I have never cried in movies, and I cried from beginniing to end 2. This movie really shows how distressed and powerless a parent can feel when their child is in pain. You understand that all they can do is give unconditional love and support but that they can't save their child even if they would do anything to. 3. Addiction is a monster but it does not define you, it isnt who you are. 4. Timothée and Steven's performance is so real and powerful, you feel the emotions they are trying to convey. I cannot imagine this movie better done than it is now, and it really really deserves an oscar

I managed to view this movie on Amazon streaming. Carell seems mostly known for his comedic work but shows again that he is even better in a straight dramatic role, here as the father who loves his teenage son but finally comes to grips that he can't save him from his drug addiction. The boy must save himself.

Good performances all around, it is hard to watch at times because we know that often a young man or young woman in fact fails to overcome the addiction and dies very young. In fact in the USA for those under 50 drug use is the most common cause of death. The problem with many teens, going through puberty and high school years, is they want to experiment but experimenting with drugs is a very dangerous thing. No matter how the parents raise them some will always go there, it is sad.

This movie, mostly based on the true story, shows that vividly.

This was a "good" film, but not great. Screen adaptations of books are almost always disappointing, but this one was especially so for this viewer. The book "Beautiful Boy" felt so wrenching, deep, authentic. I wonder if the film tried to do too much? Although it touched on a number of important and relevant pieces of the story, it really did not build an emotional connection with viewers. In many of the more difficult scenes, I WANTED to want to cry. But it just wasn't there.

I should also say that I've lived in many of these scenes with an addicted loved one. And the depth of the despair just was not palpable, even though I knew what emotion I was EXPECTING to feel. I didn't feel it, and that left me feeling even more hollow than if I hadn't had the actual experience. Did it feel inauthentic? I can't put my finger on exactly what it was. But sadly, this film was a "miss" for me.

I have read some negative reviews and the first question that comes to mind is 'have you ever loved an addict?' As someone whose husband is an addict, this story could not be more real. Some of the lines I've heard verbatim, and watching the parents go through the trauma rang true of my inlaws also. So many lines from the addict though, and particularly the times he went missing, rang so true for me. One review in the New York Times said it 'glossed over the reality'. No, it showed that ice/meth addiction can hit any family. It can certainly hit a middle/upper class family and the torment of not knowing how to help is so true.

After watching the film I read the book and was again moved by the reality it presented If you know and love an addict, I recommend this film. Addiction is such an epidemic so I recommend it for all, but for those of us who love an addict there is a certain cathartic nature to the film that perhaps exists mostly if you've walked it.

Firstly Carrell and Chalamet were both excellent performance wise but the finished product just felt like it missed the mark a little. At some times it felt like it wasn't hard hitting enough and rather fluffy in parts whilst also seemingly heavily waited towards the fathers viewpoint rather than the sons in comparison to the source material. The last 15-20minutes especially missed the mark for me. Overall though it was still a captivating watch thanks to the two leads but it would be better with a greater viewpoint from both sides than predominantly the one and a lot more powerful also.

As John Lennon's lyrics go:

"'Cause it's a long way to go, A hard row to hoe Yes, it's a long way to go"

And so it proves for young Nic Sheff (Timothée Chalamet). For - based on a true story - Nic has progressively worked through the encyclopaedia of drugs until he has arrived at "C for Crystal Meth" where he is working through a recurring nightmare of addiction and attempted rehab.

What's harder... being the victim of drugs or being the caring onlookers desperately hoping that this attempt to climb the slippery pole to recovery will be a successful one? This is reflected as a key aspect of the film, and as a parent it makes for a very hard watch. The 'caring onlookers' in this case are Nic's father David (Steve Carell), his girlfriend Karen Barbour (Maura Tierney), the couple's natural children Jasper (Christian Convery) and Daisy (Oakley Bull), and David's ex-wife and Nic's mother Vicki (Amy Ryan).

This is only the 2nd English-language film from director Felix van Groeningen (after 2012's " The Broken Circle Breakdown") and the film has its fair share of impressive directorial flourishes such that Felix might need to get added to that elusive list of "famous Belgians"! Not least among them is the use of flashbacks. The film starts with a 12 month flashback, but then throughout the story David flashes back to scenes of his boy's childhood. Many of these reflect the regret in perhaps failing to identify ways he could have done things differently to avoid the current crisis.

While many of these flashbacks are sudden and unexpected, I didn't find them confusing to follow although I can see how they might annoy some viewers who prefer a more 'linear' storytelling approach.

Above all, it is the acting performances that make this film, and the four key cast members all turn in memorable turns. It's excruciating watching Carell's parental anguish and then (like a blast of light) his realization of a truth he'd been avoiding for a long time. It's Chalamet though who truly shines, delivering fully on the realization of the tortured and self-torturing Nic. Already nominated for a Golden Globe, I would have thought another Oscar nomination is assured for this. ER's Maura Tierney also excels in a quieter supporting role: something that generally seems to be her niche at the movies.

This is most definitely a gruelling movie from beginning to end - especially for parents of young teens - and as such it feels a lot longer than it's 2 hour running time suggests. But it is well worth the effort. A drama that really delivers on its message: "just say no". It rather frustrates me that the film is a UK 15 certificate. Not that I'm criticising the BBFC here, since with graphic drug taking, a lot of choice language and one (not overly graphic) sex scene, the rating is appropriate. However this would seem to me to be required viewing by every 13 year old, since if Chalomet's performance can't drill the message home to not climb onto that pole in the first place, then noone can.

(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web and Facebook. Thanks).

Because of the nature of its story, 'Beautiful Boy (2018)' is repetitive. It tries its best to replicate the vicious recovery-relapse cycle that most addicts go through, and initially succeeds in doing so, but it ends up overstaying its welcome by quite a long while, marching past its presumed end to noble yet detrimental effect. On the whole, the film feels very long, especially after it exceeds this natural end-point. Plus, its actual ending is at odds with the near novel-length 'text ending'. I feel as though a few of the relapse periods, especially early on, should have perhaps been truncated - or, even, totally removed; this way, the piece would maintain its purposefully non-conventional, almost frustrating structure without (as much of) its repetitive pacing. The structure itself is a little strange because the picture plays around with time in some counter-intuitive and, frankly, unnecessary ways. Occasionally, these time-jumps are confusing, if not jarring, and they only serve to further distance us from the plot's events. Another issue with the picture is its soundtrack, which is often played distractingly loud and feels as though it's being used as the sole emotional manipulator. The soundscape usually goes for this annoying faux-'punk' feel meant to embody a disenfranchised youth, but this seems incredibly on-the-nose and the actual song choices are sometimes strange, as well as obvious (if you'll forgive the juxtaposition). The fact that the music is meant to elicit emotion more than the scenes themselves - or, at least, it overpowers the scenes themselves - is a bit of an issue, especially since the flick didn't affect me at all, despite its 'heart-wrenching' narrative. Indeed, aside from its function as a realistic, anti-drug biopic, it functions mainly as a tear-jerker, so it is a bit of a problem that not a single one of my tears were ever close to being jerked (and it's not like I have a heart of stone, either). You engage with the experience more with your head than your heart. It all feels rather distant, to be honest. The piece's major saving grace is its lead performances. Both Carell and Chalamet really are great. They believably portray the relatively compelling father-son dynamic at the heart of the story, differing greatly while also having many similarities (aspects of their relationship which aren't highlighted as much as I'd perhaps have liked). The other players are all good, too, and compound the flick's events as occurring in the 'real world'. The performances and this grounded vibe keep things more than watchable, even if the overall result is slightly underwhelming. This isn't a bad effort, just a somewhat hollow one. 6/10

A wonderful movie of the damage addiction causes in our lives and how insidious it can be. The cast does a wonderful job in portraying the different aspects with the exception of keeping it a little too clean in terms of the thefts and betrayals.

Very inspirational in the portrayal of the family not quitting on Nic while realizing it's on Nic to make the decision to stay in recovery.

All too real.

All respect to the Sheff family. Everything!!

This review may make some Chalamet fans mad...

nothing special. The structure is very odd. The flashbacks become jumbled together, and its hard to tell when each scene takes places. I felt like I spent half of the movie trying to piece everything together, that I didn't get to connect with the characters like I wanted to. It's a very "Vanilla" portrayal. The main character Nic has a pretty ok life... it was hard to connect with a character who almost has no reason to turn to drugs? As someone who has battled addiction at a young age, I could certainly tell you that his story is a fluke... most, if not all addicts come from broken homes. Also, I find it very odd that people are calling this a "Sure thing" for awards season. The film is a C+, B- at best.

Timothee Chalamet is good... but in no way is his performance an academy award winning performance... He isn't in it very much, which is disappointing. He spends his 20 minutes crying his eyes out, and that's about it. If he can't win an academy award for CMBYN, one of the GREATEST performances of all time...he certainly isn't going to win one for this. He was constantly over acting. He had so many "Oscar Clip" scenes that I began to roll my eyes.. Steve Carell was really good though. Very subtle performance.

Very bland and confusing movie. Although that sprinkler scene was devastating. Very subtle touch

I realize that this is a true story, but this was more of a docudrama than an entertaining movie. The only thing this movie is good for is to scare the crap out of your kids! Maybe that was the intent of the movie to begin with. As a former NYC Paramedic I can attest to the dark and depressing world that this movie drags you into. In all honesty, all this movie made me feel was that I wanted to kick the crap out of the father (Steve Carell). I won't be the spoiler here, but if you bother to see this film, you'll know why. All the reviews that I had read all stated that the acting was excellent. Maybe so, but the script and the flow sucked! Don't waste your money or 2 hours in the theater. If you must, wait till it comes out on video or ppv.

This is a journey of a son and a father trying to cultivate their relationship. When one expects, and neglects to see what is infront of him. A son who is in need of acceptance, a son that incapacitates the characteristics of a lost soul. This movie portraits the epitome of what is happening in the minds of youth in this dire generation. A masterpiece that was brought to life.