Honey Boy

Written by Shia LaBeouf

Directed by Alma Har’el

Rating: 🏆 most excellent

This semi-autobiographical film is about a young Hollywood actor named Otis (played by Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges, based on Shia LaBeouf), and his relationship with his tumultuous father James (played by Shia LaBeouf). James is a recovering alcoholic, a felon, an eccentric rodeo clown, and a deeply flawed human being who has a deep but sometimes inaccessible love for his son. We follow Otis’s upbringing into young adulthood when Otis lands in court-ordered rehab. Otis is forced to examine his demons and learn to cope with his emotions and his past.

This movie is an absolute banger. As Shia LaBeouf’s first screenplay we are treated to an intimate look inside the life of an actor that we all know and love. Since his early days on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens it has been clear that Shia is a comedic talent. His later rolls in films such as Fury and Disturbia proved that he is a dramatic actor as well. His unbelievably nuanced and raw performances in The Peanut Butter Falcon and Honey Boy, along with the brilliantly crafted screenplay for Honey Boy have proved that Shia LaBeouf is an artist. In Honey Boy he wrote and performed in such a way that you can’t help but feel the unwavering love that Shia has for his father. He doesn’t shy away from showing painful moments, which is an incredibly brave thing to do, but he always finds a way to redeem the character and remind the audience that everyone is broken in their own way.

This film wouldn’t have worked without the brilliant performances by Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges and Noah Jupe. I was blown away by the talent of these young actors and their incredible onscreen chemistry with Shia. The cinematography set a contemplative tone, like one would feel when they reminisce on their memories, and this enables the audience to feel like they are truly inside Otis’s mind. Director Alma Har’el (yay female director!!) steered this film towards authenticity and love and that comes pouring off the screen in every shot. Everything from the camera work to the sound to the set design draws you into Otis’s world and points you towards the heart of this film, which is the real story of a heartbroken man. Honey Boy is powerful, poignant, and a delightful watch that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Review written by Zianna Weston