Beautiful Boy (2018)

Timothée Chalamet wowed audiences last year with his breakthrough role in Call Me By Your Name, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down with another emotionally hitting performance in Beautiful Boy. Based on a true story, Chalamet plays Nic Sheff, a boy who seemingly has it all but still finds himself struggling with a drug addition. Opposite Chalamet is Steve Carell as Nic’s father David, who does everything he possibly can to help but still ends up feeling helpless. Beautiful Boy is two powerhouse actors acting beautifully with one another in a film that screams awards season.

David Sheff (Carell) has done everything he can to give his son Nic (Chalamet) a good life growing up, but he’s heartbroken to learn that despite his best efforts Nic has become addicted to meth. Even so, David still loves his son and will do what it takes in order to get him clean. He quickly learns that there’s only so much he can do however, because in the end it all comes down to Nic and how far he’s willing to go.

Beautiful Boy is as amazing as it is heartbreaking watching Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell act opposite each other. Seeing Nic continually succumb to his drug habits is crushing, but seeing the toll it takes on his loved ones is devastating. There’s this constant back and forth as Nic struggles with his demons. There are moments where he wants to get better; he checks into rehab, goes to AA, etc., and for a while things seem like they’re getting better. But then he relapses and the cycle starts all over again, much to the dismay of everyone involved. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that will no doubt bring tears to your eyes on more than one occasion.

Just as the title suggests, there’s a underlying beauty to Beautiful Boy that can’t be missed. There’s a beauty in the performances. There’s a beauty in the relationship between a father and a son. Life is about taking the bad with the good, and sometimes to truly appreciate the good moments you have to experience the bad ones. Beautiful Boy delivers on both.