Issues with 'Beautiful Boy'

Since I mentioned 'Beautiful Boy' in my 'Manchester by the Sea' post, I think it makes sense to address my thoughts on it next. A film about a father (Steve Carell) son (Timothée Chalamet) relationship and how the father copes with his son's serious drug addiction. As Timmy's meth addiction begins to overtake his life, Steve must learn to survive his emotional turmoil and fight for his son. The film encapsulates the concept of instant addiction and the life-destroying effects that follow with it. The audience sees the terror, sadness, and even beauty that coincides with drug addiction.

The acting is superb; both Timmy and Steve completely disappear into these characters. The viewers are put into Steve's shoes, living through his moments of a coping, loving father. Every day he lives life with worry and fear for his son, wherever he might be. Despite being a little cheesy at first, his performance channels an essence that rivals that of 'Foxcatcher,' his prior acting nomination. As for Timmy, this is his best performance yet, topping that of 'Call Me by Your Name.' I don't see any other young actor playing this role as well as he did, embodying the emotions of an inspired young man and a mentally broken down addict simultaneously. The performances carry this film and both actors allow the writing to fully explore the narrative.

Despite the stellar acting and premise, there are issues with it. This film is messy: some scenes are too long, flashbacks don't lead anywhere, inconsistent musical tone, and the overall pacing doesn't connect neatly. Unlike 'Manchester by the Sea,' 'Beautiful Boy' doesn't understand that the plot is already dark and depressing. The film hits you with tacky Hollywood scores, cueing the viewer to cry, which had a complete reverse effect on me. Then, oppositely, the music will turn completely upbeat following a scene filled with utter despair. The combination of the two completely tossed me out of the story. It became hard to get back into gear and focus on the father-son dynamic. The flashbacks stick around only in the first half of the film. Once their purpose fulfills to advance the exposition, they fade away. The film is too long; with one central theme and a weak subplot; not holding me long enough for 2 hours. If the story were trimmed to about 90 minutes, I would love it. It would turn into a film that knows its drive and its purpose rather than stretching scenes to further manipulate its audience to care.

The performances alone should demand viewing of this film, but the messiness and manipulative nature drives me away. Initially, I thought positively but as I continue to mull it over, my perspective changes. Pacing makes or breaks films and for this, it didn't pan out. The music aggravates me to no end and the excessive padding deters me from a second viewing. I would rank 'Beautiful Boy' a 6/10. Let me know if you agree in the comments below.