Honey Boy

A solid script, direction and talented cast bring life to "Honey Boy", the extremely sad story of a young boy, Otis (Noah Jupe) who grows up in the entertainment industry without the real emotional and psychological support of his family. Otis is a young actor not even a teenager who finally gains success on a tv show but his mother who is worried the success will not last goes to work full time and gives Otis's estranged father, James (Shia LeBouef) custody in California. Every actor on screens shines in "Honey Boy". The editing and direction are perfect for the raw depiction of the characters and story. Shia LaBeouf wrote the script while in rehab and plays the role of , many speculated the film was loosely based on his life. As you watch the film it is clear Shia LaBeouf was mentally working through things as he wrote the script, it is not hard to believe this must have been a cathartic experience for him. The film becomes a cautionary tale for young children who grow up as actors in Hollywood, the isolation that may come into play for a capitalist industry that put profits over the well being of those who make tv shows and movies possible. Honey Boy is a powerful depiction of getting lost within the American system of fame it can destroy you, unfortunately It is even more tragic to see a cast and crew who worked so hard to make "Honey Boy" the film were manipulated by Shia LaBeouf who lied stating the film was not fictional. He went to various Q&A's and press outlets but lied and said this was the real depiction of his life including his father who in the film is depicted as a antagonist, abusive and sympathetic. In various press junkets including The Hollywood Reporter "Round Table" Shia LaBeouf stated he felt he needed to write this script, tell his story to have an emotional and mental breakthrough to heal. Shia LaBeouf stated he was "backed against a wall" and needed to write this film but years later on actor/producer Jon Bernthal's "The Real Ones" podcast, Shia LaBeouf admitted that he lied that the film was a real depiction of his father, the film is a mix of loosely based reality and fictional retelling. This created controversy and director Alma Har'el has since tried to distance herself from the film.

This is hands-down one of the best movies I've watched in years!!

Honey Boy is a movie filled with heart and love. Shia LaBeouf's writing serves as a therapeutic journey for both himself and the audience. Watching him step into the role of his own father showcases the personal significance of the film, and this emotional connection is felt throughout. Noah Jupe delivers a great performance, conveying the hurt and pain of his character very well. The entire cast excels in their roles. The film gracefully navigates various themes, from parental abuse and the search for love to childhood trauma and forgiveness. While it is not perfect, the movie's effectiveness in achieving its intended purpose outweighs any faults. It stands as a beautiful redemption and healing journey for Shia LaBeouf, and he should be proud.

Noah's acting was incredible this movie made me cry

Shia LaBeouf started out as a child actor with appealing presence through the mostly unseen "Even Stevens", nurtured and grown into becoming Hollywood's namely profitable actor in blockbusters from mid-2000s' to the early tens, stemming from his 2007 breakthroughs. Youthful earnest with energetic approach and occasional social awkwardness, underlining relatedly minded characters expressing heart, till maturity hits and embraces artistic approaches upon re-evaluating his performative skills. Somewhere down the road, figuratively and literally, he stirred controversially in few incidents then eventually placed himself in rehabilitation. Still recognizable from his memorable achievements, albeit at times apparently problematic in contrast to his rising stardom. Just questioning his becoming between his starring and refining periods in film could be responded by his doubted famous status. Actors have shown how overwhelming the industry can be, but seeing the deeply rooted, personal effects as another cause can truly be explored if the affected person's willing to share. LaBeouf detailed his experiences into a screenplay for a therapeutic prompt he was given during rehab, which usually indicates one to reflect their own life's conditions. The following is semi-autobiography, with names changed into fictious accounts while certain references are grasped. The title references LaBeouf's supposedly childhood nickname given by his father, and the film mostly covers that as we see him fictionalized as Otis Lort through his stormy childhood and early adult years that led to his intoxicated arrest into rehab reflecting back those events. His childhood's ascent to stardom shows the usual challenging pressure, mainly by his father, an ex-rodeo clown and a convicted felon just forcing his unachieved dream onto his youngling, driving the estrangement between the two with the son wanting to reconnect. This hardship inadvertently influenced his behavior and how to cope till he could independently follow his dreams across the cinema, then navigating those different stages of his frenetic career, and where it currently leads him. Films are usually penned down on paper in many forms from inspirations to creations, with industrially-associated prompts up for refining improvements and challenges. A film like "Honey Boy", solely based on an actual written project prompted elsewhere, is intimately compelling when the storyline invites you to go right into the writer's presented memories when personally penned. Of course, the value applies if the writer's well-acknowledged that already piques interest. If not, then the engagement is defined by performative showcase, starring LaBeouf stepping into his father's shoes and both Noah Jupe ("The Quiet Place") and Lucas Hedges ("Boy Erased") fulfilling his inner perspective. Hedges really portrayed LaBeouf quite well when voicing those inner frustrations and impatience that were explicitly memorized upon the initial writing; and same goes to Jupe for portraying the inner cling of innocence and purity towards desired resolve before corrupted into substance. In the middle of his serious, praiseworthy roles, LaBeouf performing as his father adds another dimension to his overall therapeutic writing when finding a sympathetic ground in understanding him, then half of his lines seems personally indicated than speaking as/for his father. It sums up nicely in the final scene between LaBeouf and Hedges, marking probable acceptance and forgiveness, particularly how it was built symbolically. Frequent music video director Alma Har'el makes her debut on narrative filmmaking, showing sympathetic expressivity with familiar trademarks that works exceptionally well. Her collaboration fully realized how LaBeouf envisioned his words with obvious own suggestions to acceptably enhance those moments and how they should be meaningfully delivered and focused. If you previously seen Shia LaBeouf's past works (generally stated but based on definitively attached reputation), then this is a wonder to ponder on, while to others a compelling form adding on to the rare personally handwritten screenplay reflecting on one's own path with referred impacts. "Honey Boy" can go with more contexts in the periodical gaps, but the self-written semi-autobiography only brought up relevant functional moments as the main ideas connected to the main conflict that now can be eased. (B+)

Does this movie have a plot?

This movie was an unexpected beautifully sad, wonderfully emotional journey that lends itself to everyone. The therapeutic prompting through out pushing the lead forward let's us feel his pain in trying to move forward. It's simply beautiful

It was quite Beautiful.

Pretty Good Movie Depicting Child Actors life!

Pretentious in the extreme. Such an unpleasant moviegoing experience.