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Movie Review: “Beautiful Boy”
“Beautiful Boy” is a compelling story about addiction and a family’s struggle to cope. Directed by Felix van Groeningen and based on the best-selling memoirs by David and Nic Sheff, it’s a movie that is heartbreaking to watch, but in the end, it is also a reminder that there’s always hope for recovery.
As the movie opens, journalist David Sheff (Steve Carell) sits in the office of an addiction expert. He’s not there for an interview. Instead, he’s asking for personal advice regarding his son, Nic Sheff (Timothée Chalamet) who is suffering from addiction. It’s clear from the conversation that David doesn’t know where else to go or what else to do. He’s desperate because he doesn’t know who his son is anymore and he’s losing him.
Media
A Special Relationship
David and his son Nic have a special relationship that many dads and their sons don’t have. As a young boy, Nic spent the majority of his time living in San Francisco with his dad and step-mother Karen (Maura Tierney) but spent the holidays in Los Angeles with his biological mom. Throughout the movie, David’s memories take him back to various times throughout Nic’s childhood and teenage years as he reflects on his son’s sweet personality, creative talents, and adventurous spirit.
David and Nic used to surf together, talk about life, listen to music, and drop in at their favorite restaurant often. But once Nic started using drugs, he became distant, would disappear for days without explanation, and lied, manipulated, and kept secrets from his dad.
As a concerned father with limited knowledge about addiction, David struggles to figure out what is happening to his “beautiful boy” and watches helplessly as Nic sinks deeper and deeper into depression and substance abuse.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Felix van Groeningen
- Screenplay: Luke Davies & Felix van Groeningen
- Cinematography: Ruben Impens
- Editing: Nico Leunen
Starring: Steve Carell (David Sheff), Timothée Chalamet (Nic Sheff), Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan, Jack Dylan Grazer & Timothy Hutton
Production Notes
- Adapted from David Sheff’s Beautiful Boy and Nic Sheff’s Tweak.
- Film rights acquired in 2008; directed by Felix van Groeningen for Plan B / Amazon Studios.
- Principal photography: Mar–May 2017 in Los Angeles & San Francisco. Chalamet lost ~20 lb for overdose scenes; editing spanned 7 months.
Box Office & Streaming
- Budget: $19.3–25 million; Worldwide Gross: $16.6 million.
- Domestic: ~$7.64 million; International: ~$9.69 million.
- Opening Weekend (US): ~$218,888 in 4 theaters; legs: 5.26.
- Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime since Jan 3, 2019 .
The Plot
Act I: Discovery
The film opens with David Sheff frantically searching for his missing son Nic. When Nic reappears, it becomes clear he’s been using crystal meth. David admits him to rehab, marking the start of their fraught journey :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Act II: Descent
Nic briefly recovers and enrolls at college, but succumbs to relapse—first with pills and alcohol, then heroin. A pivotal diner confrontation with David, who refuses to fund his habit, emphasizes the fractured father-son relationship :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Act III: Survival & Hope
After another overdose and relapse, Nic is hospitalized and sent to a sober living facility. He begins rebuilding his life, attending meetings and finding work. The film closes with a hospital reconciliation and credits stating Nic’s 8 years of sobriety—a bittersweet but hopeful resolution :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
A Family Disease
Like many other parents with addicted children, David initially
believes he can save Nic from his addiction. He spends countless hours driving around the city searching for Nic when he doesn’t come home, he pays for rehab multiple times, and he drops everything to fly to New York when he finds out Nic has overdosed and is in the hospital there.
All throughout the first half of the movie, David’s actions suggest that he believes if he just loves Nic enough and supports him enough, he’ll eventually come around and just return to the same sweet, talented boy that he used to be.
However, slowly but surely, David begins to understand the painful truth about addiction: an addicted person can’t fully recover until they are ready to help themselves. Nic had been using drugs and alcohol to fill a void in his life and he wasn’t ready to give that up completely. His disease would compel him to keep using until he decided that he wanted to be sober more than he wanted to use.
“Beautiful Boy” primarily focuses on David’s experience dealing with his son’s addiction and is a revealing take on the struggles a family faces when a loved one is addicted. Nic’s family rejoices with him when he achieves days and months sober, but they also grieve deeply when he relapses and falls back into his addiction.
As Nic continually relapses, his family members learn what it’s like to grieve for someone who is living, as though they had already died. The fear, worry, and agony serve as a constant reminder that at any moment, they could receive a phone call from the hospital with news of his inevitable death.
While Nic is homeless on the streets of California, David continues to live his life at home with his wife and two younger children. However, his mind is always far away with his son Nic, as he wonders where he is, what he’s doing, and whether or not he’s okay.
Although David sees glimpses of his beautiful boy again at times throughout the movie, the film ends with Nic still struggling with his addiction. Both father and son are unsure of the future and unprepared for what is to come.
Although a movie could never fully capture the depth of addiction and its impact on the drug abuser or their loved ones, “Beautiful Boy” skims the surface with a heartfelt story and ends on a hopeful note that reminds the viewer that recovery is possible. In real life, Nic Sheff’s recovery is a daily struggle, but he is currently eight years sober.
Current Impact & Retrospective
Released in 2018, Beautiful Boy concludes on a cautiously hopeful note: the credits inform viewers that Nic Sheff has maintained more than eight years of sobriety—a powerful testament to the enduring impact of his recovery journey.
In retrospective reviews, critics continue to highlight the film’s emotional resonance and performances. Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com praised Carell’s portrayal of quiet grief and Chalamet’s empathetic embodiment of addiction’s chaos:
“The melancholy that humanizes [Carell’s character] … this movie … gives you a sense of what it’s like to be in the room with that distinctive energy.”
The film is now regarded not just as a period piece—but as a *model* for cinematic addiction narratives, impacting families and addiction discourse. Many viewers testify to its role in prompting family conversations and offering hope rooted in lived experience—not Hollywood finales.
Awards & Nominations
- Golden Globes 2019: Nominated – Best Supporting Actor (Chalamet).
- BAFTA 2019: Nominated – Best Supporting Actor (Chalamet).
- Critics’ Choice 2019: Nominated – Best Supporting Actor.
- SAG Awards 2019: Nominated – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
- Hollywood Film Awards 2018: Chalamet won Supporting Actor of the Year; van Groeningen won Breakthrough Director.
- Festival Honors: Aspen Film Festival (Independent by Nature Award), Chicago Critics (Founder’s Award), San Sebastián (Golden Shell nomination).
Critic Scores & Aggregates
Rotten Tomatoes: 68% approval (266 critic reviews) – “Beautiful Boy sees Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell delivering showcase work that’s often powerful enough to make up for the story’s muted emotional impact.”
Metacritic: 62 / 100 – “Generally favorable reviews” (45 critics)
What Critics Are Saying
“I appreciated seeing ‘Beautiful Boy’ … Two‑hour dramas about families muddling through a son’s drug addiction are not exactly laugh riots. But everybody was rapt. Afterward, people were crying and hugging each other in the lobby.” — Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
“Timothée Chalamet captures this complicated feeling so beautifully on the screen … Felix van Groeningen and Luke Davies’s screenplay captures something so raw because you still feel a great difficulty coming on the inside.” — TIFF review
“It is only by the grace of Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet that *Beautiful Boy* works at all. Without them, this film is a mess.” — Lainey TIFF review
“The down‑to‑earth details of Nic’s misery… don’t pander to viewers who want an inspirational, tidy story.” — Matt Zoller Seitz via MUBI
Audience Reactions from Reddit
“The movie was a gut punch… even somebody as well off and smart as Nic” — u/[deleted], r/movies
“I related to Nic on a really deep level in the film… 3 rehabs later and now I finally have 8 1/2 months clean.” — u/syncopatedsouls, r/movies
These candid responses from Reddit underscore the emotional impact of Beautiful Boy—especially among viewers who have faced addiction themselves or watched loved ones struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions – Beautiful Boy (2018)
Yes—it’s adapted from the memoirs by David Sheff and his son Nic, chronicling the real struggle with addiction.
Nic battles methamphetamine addiction, along with other substances, struggling through multiple relapses.
Yes—Carell portrays David Sheff, and Chalamet portrays his son Nic, brilliantly capturing their fraught, emotional bond.
Chalamet earned nominations from the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, SAG Awards, and more for his supporting role.
The film ends open‑ended: Nic survives another overdose, hinting at hope with his years-long recovery, but no pat resolution.
The film adapts David Sheff’s “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey…” and Nic Sheff’s “Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines.”
Directed by Felix van Groeningen, it marks his English-language feature debut, co-written with Luke Davies.
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Evidence-Based, Compassionate Care
Beautiful Boy illustrates the importance of professional involvement—journalistic research turns into seeking medical expertise. Nova shares this philosophy: combining medical detox, therapy, and structured care personalized to each client’s needs.Whole-Family Involvement
The film underscores addiction’s impact on the entire family. Similarly, Nova recognizes that family dynamics play a critical role in healing—offering family counseling and support resources to help loved ones understand and navigate the journey .
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