By AMY BISHOP
Contributing Writer
In his first English language film, Belgian director Felix Van Groeningen tackles the sensitive and heavy subject of addiction. “Beautiful Boy” is a rocky, emotional rollercoaster that reflects the struggles of an entire family affected by drug addiction. This film is based mostly on the memoir of the same name, by David Sheff (Steve Carell), who watches his son, Nic (Timothée Chalamet) slip away from his seemingly ideal suburban, as he becomes dependent on Methamphetamine. The narrative also pulls from Nic Sheff’s memoir, “Tweak.” Nic uses a myriad of substances to escape what he calls a “black hole” inside of him, as his father watches from the sidelines in helpless disbelief.
To mimic the unpredictability and frequency of relapse in a drug addict’s life, the narrative jumps around in time. We see Nic as a young boy, an adolescent, and a young man at different points in the film. Sometimes it is hard to tell which things happened before others. But this confusion shows us that at any moment Nic’s life can fall apart after appearing perfectly normal. The grip of addiction sometimes seems to come out of nowhere, after he has gone through rehabilitation and is enjoying life more than ever. The flashbacks to Nic’s childhood are seen through David’s eyes, to show us that there was no tell-tale sign that his son would go down this path. We see him surfing, listening to grunge music, holding his baby brother in the hospital, and other formative moments, to show that addiction can affect even the happiest and most promising kids.
Often stories of drug addiction on screen will show highly dramatized visions to transport us into the head of a user in the moment of ecstasy. This movie never veers into that trope. Instead we are always shown Nic from the outside. When he is shown using drugs, typically meth, it is not glamorized. This is aided by the exceptionally raw portrayal of Nic by Timothée Chalamet.
Chalamet’s recent rise to stardom has shocked many, though not Van Groeningen, who had seen him in the play “Prodigal Son” several years ago and recognized something unique. Chalamet brings an authenticity to the role that can make the viewer feel like they’re watching a documentary. After losing 18 pounds for this role, Chalamet has proven himself as a dedicated performer and story-teller. The physicality of his performance speaks louder than any lines. After his breakout role in “Call Me By Your Name,” Chalamet has been recognized as one the most talented actors of his generation, fast becoming a legend. For his “Call Me By Your Name” role he received his title of youngest Best Actor nominee in almost 80 years. His role as Nic Sheff speaks to his talents on another level, and is already rumored to earn him a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
Steve Carell is more of a household name, but this role could also earn him an oscar nod. After his moving roles in films like “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Foxcatcher,” Carell’s talent as a dramatic actor aren’t necessarily a surprise. Carell embodies all the helplessness that David explicitly expresses in his memoir.
Like any literary adaptation, large chunks of narrative are left out for artistic and practical purposes. Many of the darker moments from “Tweak” have been eliminated, the bulk of the perspective coming from David. But we also receive some of the mother’s perspective, portrayed by Amy Ryan, an old co-star of Carell’s from “The Office.” This is unique to the film, and showcases her ability to convey the same compassion and pain as Carell.
The familiar cinematic portrayal of addictions, like “Requiem for a Dream” or “Trainspotting” end in characters either destitute, or recovered. This film does not attempt to tie up loose ends in that way. It is no spoiler that Nic Sheff is completely recovered and rehabilitated in real life, but this happy ending is not shown on screen. Instead of focusing on a fairy tale ending, this film dives into the soul of its characters and emphasized the unpredictability and devastation of addiction. Nic’s addiction is more about his inner demons than any external forces, telling the audience that this disease does not discriminate.
I highly recommend this film to anyone, to provide insight into a very real and relevant societal issue. I also recommend sticking around for the credits to hear a powerful reading of a Charles Bukowski poem by Chalamet, to leave you pondering life.
“Beautiful Boy” is playing now in select theaters and will be released nationwide on Nov. 9th.
