Beautiful Boy

In his English-language debut, Felix van Groeningen (The Misfortunates, The Broken Circle Breakdown) confirms his reputation for portraying complex family relationships. In Beautiful Boy, the Belgian director tells the story of journalist David Sheff (Steve Carell) and his drug-addicted son, Nic (Timothée Chalamet). David, who was convinced for years that he had an excellent relationship with his son, does everything to fix the mistakes of the past to help Nic scrape himself up off the bottom. As usual, van Groeningen does not eschew intense emotions and provokes audiences to feel without ever crossing the line into kitsch. The actors operate wonderfully in the director’s convention and Timothé Chalamet’s (Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird) performance is especially moving, confirming why he has become one of the most sought-after young talents; he received a Golden Globe nomination for his efforts.