Honey Boy is a brilliant piece of cinema which is brutally honest but at the same time beautiful to watch. The movie is a about the personal life of actor Shia Labeouf. The movie revolves around his struggle and his relationship with his father whilst performing as a child actor on a TV Show.
The depiction of the father son relationship is at times difficult to watch, it is toxic, both are hurting each other in their own way and it is debatable if you can even blame anyone. The father has struggles and problems of his own but that’s what makes this movie a standout.
This movie is not about a son growing up with a physically abusive father and the effects it has on him. The abuse portrayed here is not physical but not any less than physical abuse.
It’s about growing up without a father when he’s right there in front of you.
A father who admits that he feels ashamed holding his son in public. A father who’s drowning in a pit of sorrow and ends up making life difficult for his son as well.
Shia Labeouf wrote the screenplay for this movie while in therapy so you can tell this comes from a personal place.
And in the words of the great director Martin Scorsese
“The most personal is the most creative.”
This movie comes from a place where most people are afraid to go, something that people don’t even want to talk about.
I cannot even fathom the amount of courage it takes to tell something so painful to the world.
Huge respect for Shia Labeouf.
Talking about the performances, it is easily the best performance of the career so far by Shia. He’s perfect in the role of his own father. Well, he had a lifetime to prepare for that role. Noah Jupe is also incredible as the young Otis (Shia’s name in the movie).
There’s depth in his performance, him and Shia together light up the screen. He’s perfect in the scenes he’s longing for his father’s affection. He commands enough charisma to make up for a child actor. He’s someone you need to watch out for in years to come. Lucas Hedges also has a significant role in the movie, playing an older version of Otis who’s already made it in the industry. He plays the Shia Labeouf who was constantly in headlines for his arrests and erratic behaviour. He’s sent to therapy where he’s diagnosed with PTSD and writes the whole screenplay of the movie as a therapy. Lucas Hedges’ presence and his arc brings closure and a completion of sorts to his whole character arc.
Another praiseworthy performance was FKA Twigs who doesn’t have a lot of dialogue in the movie but is still effective with what she has. The young Otis (Noah Jupe) feels connected and comfortable with her.
Marking her first feature film, Alma Har’el does a wonderful job in the movie. She lets the movie breathe and unfolds the characters to us with much patience.
Would love to see what she does next.
The movie wouldn’t have worked without her.
You would not call this film an uplifting story.
It really is about the struggles of it all.
This movie was definitely a huge Oscar snub.
It could’ve been nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actor.
Shia Labeouf deserved at least this token of appreciation for pouring his heart out.
A must watch film
8/10
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