Honey Boy. (15.)
Directed by Alma Ha'rel.
Starring Shia LeBeouf, Noah Jupe, Lucas Hedges, Byron Bowers and Laura San Giacomo. 93 mins.
Based on the document filmstar Shia LeBeouf had to write while he was in rehab for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer, Honey Boy features Lucas Hedges playing Shia LeBeouf in rehab; Noah Jupe playing the child star Shia LeBeouf; and Shia LeBeouf playing Shia LeBeouf's alcoholic father.
Two clapperboards with the dates 1995 and 2005 establish the dual narrative: in rehab the older LeBeouf explores the issues that messed him up while in the film's other strand we see his younger version gets messed up living in poverty with his father. It starts like it is going to be bold and innovative but then quickly drops into the usual routine of tantrums and tension. It's well-acted, proficiently put together but standard piece of soul-baring and angst.
And on the evidence of what we are shown here, the father doesn't seem That bad. There is violence and some bad behaviour but he's an ex-alcoholic working hard to stay straight while in the humiliating position of being hired by his young son as his manager. Yet between this upbringing and making the Transformers movies came experiences traumatic enough for LaBeouf to be diagnosed with PTSD.
Directed by Alma Ha'rel.
Starring Shia LeBeouf, Noah Jupe, Lucas Hedges, Byron Bowers and Laura San Giacomo. 93 mins.
Based on the document filmstar Shia LeBeouf had to write while he was in rehab for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer, Honey Boy features Lucas Hedges playing Shia LeBeouf in rehab; Noah Jupe playing the child star Shia LeBeouf; and Shia LeBeouf playing Shia LeBeouf's alcoholic father.
Two clapperboards with the dates 1995 and 2005 establish the dual narrative: in rehab the older LeBeouf explores the issues that messed him up while in the film's other strand we see his younger version gets messed up living in poverty with his father. It starts like it is going to be bold and innovative but then quickly drops into the usual routine of tantrums and tension. It's well-acted, proficiently put together but standard piece of soul-baring and angst.
And on the evidence of what we are shown here, the father doesn't seem That bad. There is violence and some bad behaviour but he's an ex-alcoholic working hard to stay straight while in the humiliating position of being hired by his young son as his manager. Yet between this upbringing and making the Transformers movies came experiences traumatic enough for LaBeouf to be diagnosed with PTSD.
