Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Parents

Why 'Beautiful Boy' Is An Important Film

And why you should go and see it.

Hannah Rae

Nov 28, 2018

University of Washington

308

Why 'Beautiful Boy' Is An Important Film

Amazon Studios

Last week, my friend and I went to a small, local theater and attended a showing of Felix van Groeningen's Beautiful Boy. According to IMBD, This film was a true story based on a pair of memoirs written by a father and son David and Nic Sheff.

This film, starring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet, embodies drug addiction and the toll it can take on someone and their family. It follows along with Timothée's character, Nic, as he experiences survival, relapse, and recovery.

When the credits began to roll, so many thoughts rushed through my head. I wanted to share a few of these thoughts with you today.

Drug addiction

Wow oh wow. I've been lucky enough in my life that I have never experienced drug addiction in my life — not personally or through someone that I know. Frankly, I had no idea what it was like. I was able to see addiction through the eyes of an addict and it was life changing, and very eye opening. There was a scene where David Sheff (Steve Carell's character) is looking through Nic's journal he writes in while he's high, and the entries were nothing like I've ever seen before. Timothée's character was going to school for writing, and seeing his inner thoughts gave audience members the ability to travel deeper and deeper into the mind of an addict. We watch Nic as he battles sobriety, falls into a relapse, and his journey through different rehabs. Overall, a really successful portrayal in my eyes.

A father-son relationship

Of course, the overall theme of the film is drug addiction. However, one thing that really stuck out to me was the loving, emotional relationship Nic Sheff and his dad have. I see a lot of toxic masculinity in father-son relationships. Often, I hear dads telling their sons to "man up," and to be society's definition of "tough". That's how it should be... right? After seeing this film, I wanted to go home and hug my dad. A relationship between a father and a son should be heartfelt, emotional, and loving. I never had a doubted the unconditional love David Sheff had with his son. He went through so much to get help for his son — he was with him every step of the way. When Nic disappeared from rehab, David went to find him. Heck, David even snorted cocaine just to see what all the fuss was about. (100% real)

Overall, I'd give this film a 4/5 star rating. My only constructive criticism is that sometimes there isn't always hope and a family there to help when times get rough, being a drug user. Sometimes it gets even deeper and more intense in most situations. However, I thought it was a great portrayal of a boy growing up in a stable home environment being exposed to drugs. A boy the family really cared about and nurtured, and never truly expected to become a drug addict.

Go see Beautiful Boy, in theaters now!

beautiful boy

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

University of Dayton

1382

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

library

Student Life

26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For

Who knows where we would be without them.

Michigan State University

948

StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less

roommates

Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Butler University

6963

Disney magic kingdom castle on new years

StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less

disney movies

Recommended for you

Why 'Beautiful Boy' Is An Important Film

And why you should go and see it.

Drug addiction

A father-son relationship

Go see Beautiful Boy, in theaters now!

Subscribe to our Newsletter

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

Movie Tickets

Candy

Subscribe to our
Newsletter

Hairbands, Clips, and Bobby-pins