Written by
Smitha Joseph
Review for the film "
Honey Boy"
Runtime:
1 Hour 33 Minutes
CAST & CREW
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‘
Honey Boy
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’ is an autobiographical film based on Shia LaBeouf’s abusive childhood and relationship with his father. LaBeouf initially scripted it during his time in rehab as a therapeutic process. On 2019 it was released with a grand world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by numerous noteworthy acclamations from critics.
Plot
Otis Lort is a rising actor who has PTSD that he refuses to believe. After falling into the mayhem of drunken dispute, he gets into police custody, followed by forced rehabilitation. He is eager to leave the place, but leaving before completing the rehab will bring him into prison. His counselor, Dr. Moreno, prescribes him to take up exposure therapy and visit his memories.Â
Otis recalls his life as a child actor. He lives with his father, James, in a small motel. James, a former rodeo clown, accompanies and vigorously encourages him on and off set. He handles all the necessary responsibilities for his accomplishment. But even though James is four years sober, he often gets aggressive and acts fanatically. Otis strives helplessly with these memories but goes on. He remembers how he called his mother, asking her advice regarding a role to be shot in Canada. He couldn’t go with James as he was registered as a sex offender, but James got furious on hearing this. It leads to a violent quarrel between his parents over call. After Otis' screaming breakdown, the film paves its way into James’ story. In an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, he narrates how he grew up under an abusive stepmother. He got caught in substance abuse and tried to rape a woman while blacked out.Â
Meanwhile, a lonely Otis spends time hugging a shy girl who lives across their room, and Otis pays her. The father-son duo resumes another fight after he sees them together in the morning, and Otis criticizes him for his past actions. Later, James takes him to a marijuana field, which he harvested, and smokes with him.Â
Otis visits those days by arriving at their old motel and imagining his possible reconciliation with his late father. He tells him that he will be making a movie on him. His father replies that he should make him look good, and they ride away at a distance, with James eventually fading out.
Star Performance
Shia LaBeouf’s portrayal of James Lort was heartbreakingly staggering. Voices of profound echoes were outpouring in his eyes. Including him, the trio Noah Jupe, as young Otis, and
Lucas Hedges
Lucas Hedges is an American actor born on December >> Read More...
, as adult Otis Lort, shook the screen. The direction and screenplay are unspeakably well structured. Noah’s acting skills surprisingly bring out Otis alive.Â
Analysis
The film begins with a slice of Otis’ chaotic alcoholic life as an actor and slowly ventures into a psychological state as the story gains pace and follow-up. The trailer's opening scene embodies Otis’ current position as a corked-up, neutral person who is blown away from time to time only to return to the same place. Thus, showing the inescapable situation where he is stuck.
Caught up in helpless poverty, the story of a father-son relationship turns into a tragic resemblance of what unhealthy childhood can do. LaBeouf’s shimmering specs, messy hair, and blurry eyes go beyond the portrayal of James’ part. This movie brings up those ingrained personal aspects of an individual and delivers an unspeakable rawness. LaBeouf taking up James' role is symbolic of understanding his father and nurturing the wounds with which he grew up. Sure, they did fight, as the movie shows, but this therapeutic approach also focuses on James' vulnerability. The scene where James speaks of his story is relevant in showing that he tried his best to be a father because he was also a victim of abuse. Through Otis’ journey as an actor, the emotional draining eventually gives way to alcoholism, making it an escape, a coping method for all the sorrows and grief that has bottled up inside him. Not facing these unhealed wounds makes it worse, bleeding and burdening his mere existence. The cinematographic narrative highlights this most exquisitely. Alma Har’el’s magnificent documentary perspective often shifts the movie towards a realistic domain. On a superficial level, it touches upon relevant themes of substance abuse, alcoholism, and extreme childhood agony. But on a deeper level, it carries the message of hope, reconciliation, acceptance, and understanding that surpasses the cinematic field and embraces healing wounds openly.
What’s there?
What’s not there?
Verdict
The movie is a big warm hug after a gruesome fight and almost depicts a documentary of LaBeouf. Given that it's an honest depiction of Shia's intense grief, there are some trigger points of trauma and abuse. But it is an applaudable watch that might not quickly wear off.
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