Let’s brace ourselves for a weepy father-son tale centered on addiction. Especially when two Academy Award-nominated actors are involved (and one being a dreamy floppy-haired boy), the film might just tear our hearts…or at least that’s the hope.
The new trailer for “Beautiful Boy” clearly portrays a heartbreaking and visceral family drama driven by a teenager’s addiction and his relationship with his father. Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son, David and Nick Scheff, “Beautiful Boy” follows the journey of a teenager’s meth addiction and recovery through the eyes of his father.
Academy Award nominee, Timothée Chalamet, who stole the spotlight with a captivating final scene in critically acclaimed, “Call Me By Your Name” plays the drug-addicted teenager, Nick, whose relationship with his father deteriorates. His father, David, is played by Steve Carell who is jumping back into the dramatic spotlight since his first dark role as the wealthy, tragic, and sinister, John du Pont in “Foxcatcher,” which also garnered him an Academy Award nomination.
Known for his funny roles in successful comedies such as “The Office” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Carell is delving into deep, personal matters this time, embodying a character of endearment who invites us into his family’s journey. It’s also a bit of an “Office” reunion, as Amy Ryan stars alongside Carell as his former wife, Vicki, and mother to Nick. Maura Tierney (“The Affair”) stars as Nick’s second wife, Karen.
Films about addiction invite us into an enticing personal story that chronicles the life of individuals. The thing with these dramatic narratives that center around the human condition is that when they’re projected on screen, it can brew a lot of cringy experiences instead of emotional connections. And especially with a father-son narrative involved, it’s more likely, but hopefully, it holds up a level of authenticity. The film is directed by Felix Van Groeningen who brought the emotional “Broken Circle Breakdown,” which also focused on family and loss.
“Beautiful Boy” opens in theaters on October 12.