← Back to Reviews
in
It must have been extremely cathartic for Shia LaBeouf to not only write this story, but be able to portray his father on screen. The events depicted are depressingly accurate, not necessarily to LaBeouf's life, but the life of kids in the entertainment industry. Just look at the list of childhood actors whose life has essentially fallen apart once they grew up. This is an industry that chews you up and spits you out. Some turn out pretty good, mostly likely because they have parents in their lives that know what they should and shouldn't be doing. Others have parents like the one depicted in this film; willing to physically and verbally abuse a child for the sake of fame.
Who knows how accurate this film really is to his life, but it would explain a lot about how he is now. I actually prefer LaBeouf's efforts not compared to his Transformers years, he seems to want to challenge himself creatively and emotionally. Does he take it too far at times? He was drunk off moonshine while filming Lawless, he pulled out his own tooth and didn't shower for Fury and allegedly sent Lars Von Trier a personal sex tape as his audition for Nymphomaniac.
The performances here are spectacular. LaBeouf does an admirable job playing his father. He balances a weird act of caring, but dangerous parent. When another father figure enters his sons life he threatens to kill him after throwing him in a pool at the motel they live at. The one actor playing the son is a real stand out and I expect to see a lot more of him in the future. He not only holds his own against Shia, but he is probably delivers the best performance in the film. The storyline jumps from current day rehab Otis and young actor on hit sitcom Otis. Lucas Hedges plays the older version and these sequences are not as strong as the younger segments.
Honey Boy is depressing and feels authentic. Kids in the industry simply do not have a normal childhood, no matter how you look at it.
Honey Boy
"You wouldn't be here if I didn't pay you."
"You wouldn't be here if I didn't pay you."
It must have been extremely cathartic for Shia LaBeouf to not only write this story, but be able to portray his father on screen. The events depicted are depressingly accurate, not necessarily to LaBeouf's life, but the life of kids in the entertainment industry. Just look at the list of childhood actors whose life has essentially fallen apart once they grew up. This is an industry that chews you up and spits you out. Some turn out pretty good, mostly likely because they have parents in their lives that know what they should and shouldn't be doing. Others have parents like the one depicted in this film; willing to physically and verbally abuse a child for the sake of fame.
Who knows how accurate this film really is to his life, but it would explain a lot about how he is now. I actually prefer LaBeouf's efforts not compared to his Transformers years, he seems to want to challenge himself creatively and emotionally. Does he take it too far at times? He was drunk off moonshine while filming Lawless, he pulled out his own tooth and didn't shower for Fury and allegedly sent Lars Von Trier a personal sex tape as his audition for Nymphomaniac.
The performances here are spectacular. LaBeouf does an admirable job playing his father. He balances a weird act of caring, but dangerous parent. When another father figure enters his sons life he threatens to kill him after throwing him in a pool at the motel they live at. The one actor playing the son is a real stand out and I expect to see a lot more of him in the future. He not only holds his own against Shia, but he is probably delivers the best performance in the film. The storyline jumps from current day rehab Otis and young actor on hit sitcom Otis. Lucas Hedges plays the older version and these sequences are not as strong as the younger segments.
Honey Boy is depressing and feels authentic. Kids in the industry simply do not have a normal childhood, no matter how you look at it.