Beautiful Boy – Movie Review

By Leslie C. Halpern

Based on two best-selling memoirs by father, David Sheff, (Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction) and his son, Nic Sheff, (Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines), this film focuses primarily on how drug abuse undermines the once-close father-son relationship, causes pain within the family, and damages the addict’s brain.

Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet star in Beautiful Boy. Photo copyright 2018 Amazon Studios.

As depicted in the film, Nic Sheff (Timothee Chalamet) has a childhood far better than most children experience. Living in a custom-built home on a gorgeous plot of land in California with his devoted father, David (Steve Carell) and loving stepmother (Maura Tierney), and two young siblings who idolize him, Nic enjoys a loving family, material wealth, good health, and a talent for writing and illustrating. His mother (Amy Ryan) lives out of town, but they stay in touch often.

Unanswered Questions

So why does he resort to drugs and alcohol in his late teens to fill the black hole inside him? Why does he lie, steal, and engage in other risky and self-destructive behaviors? How does he overcome his addiction? You won’t find out in this movie, which focuses on the past and current relationship between father and son. David’s frequent flashbacks, which can be disorienting at times, return to fun family times when Nic was ages 4, 6, and 12 in a non-linear collection of scenes that show how hard his parents tried over the years to create a healthy environment for their children.

David finally becomes aware of Nic’s long-time drug abuse at age 18, but by then he’s already deep into addiction, which is followed by relapses and recoveries for the next few years. Lovely childhood scenes are contrasted to grotesque addiction scenes that keep the movie cinematically interesting. David, a successful freelance writer, researches information on addiction through the internet and mental health professionals, and even conducts his own field experiment.

Heartfelt Performances

Perhaps the books delve more into elements that could help others who have friends or relatives in the throes of addiction, but this film provides more of a voyeuristic approach to a family in crisis. Steve Carell, normally known for his silliness and fearlessness of doing anything for a laugh, reveals those same traits here, but with a twist. He’s the silly father playing with his children one day, the desperate dad who’ll do anything to save his child the next.

Carell delivers a heartfelt performance, as does Chalamet in his portrayal of Nic, a beautiful boy who somehow manages to retain his good looks despite a crystal meth addiction that normally ravages its victims. His performance is stellar, but the makeup team seemed reluctant to mar his handsome face, which left Chalamet’s acting alone to convince us of his addiction.

Conversely, an oppressive soundtrack takes some of the pressure off the actors by warning that another drug-crazed disappointment is on the way and jangling our nerves by the time it arrives. This film offers plenty to see and feel, but not much new to think about.

Beautiful Boy

  • Based on a true story, an 18-year-old boy’s addiction to alcohol and crystal meth has a devastating effect on him and his family.
  • Stars: Steve Carell, Timothee Chalamet, Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Christian Convery, Oakley Bull
  • Director: Felix Van Groeningen
  • Writers: screenplay by Luke Davies and Felix Van Groeningen, based on books by David Sheff and Nic Sheff
  • Genre: Biography, Drama
  • Run Time: 112 minutes
  • MPAA Rating: R (for drug content throughout, and brief sexual material)
