Addiction is something that is commonly seen around the world whether it is alcohol abuse, or drug abuse, it’s still an important thing that people should take more seriously. About 8.5% of teens in the United States had substance abuse disorders, and the movie Beautiful Boy starring Timothee Chalamet portrays the experience teens go through when they are in a situation where they are addicted. Not only does it show this but the movie draws a picture of how addiction affects not only the user but the people surrounding them. The movie is essentially about addiction and recovery and the fathers experience in seeing how drug abuse affects his son.
The director Felix Van Groeningen structures the movie in a way that isn’t typically seen. The director likes to jump back and forth in time throughout the movie. It shows Nic (Timothee) as a child, teen, and addict. And it shows the experiences that David (Steve Carell) goes through as he sees his son go through the stages of addiction. Groeningen also doesn’t use a normal movie structure of a rising action, climax, and falling action. Instead, he adds a bunch of highs and lows that Nic experiences throughout the movie. He relapses, recovers, and then relapses again, so it seems like “a never ending cycle.”
The acting throughout the movie really portrayed the struggles teens experience today. Not only the teens, but the people around them. Timothee Chalamet delivers his lines with expressions that not many actors can do. He acts very deeply into his role that gives a heart-wrenching feeling and he is able to transition physically and emotionally from a pure, innocent boy, into a person who has been sucked in by the addiction of drugs. Along with Timothee, Steve Carrell also plays the role of the father amazingly. He is able to set an example of how addiction affects the people around the recipient. The emotions of devastation, vulnerability, and acceptance not only help the movie’s plot, but help us see the various emotions the father goes through as he tries to help his son go through his dependency on drugs. Both Chalamet and Carell depict their characters excellently, helping the viewers see the movie as heart-breaking and moving.
Today, movies sometimes aren’t able to depict and deliver the acting that this movie shows. The depth of the acting, the delivery of the lines, really show the actors motivation to make this movie the great one that it is today. Beautiful Boy is a biographical film, which means that it was based on a true story, making the acting even more impressive. The movie was given many awards, such as the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actors. Although some people may say it’s intense, it gives a beautiful message that I believe other people should watch.
