Year: 2019
Director: Alma Har'el
Country: US
Language: English
At TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) one of the films I wanted to see was Honey Boy, but alas the only screening offered during my trip was way too early for anybody on a vacation. It started at 9am. I was about the same age as Shia LaBeouf when I first saw him on the Disney Channel hit show Even Stevens. I was drawn to his personality; watching the show frequently until he moved on and uh...well I tried watching his filmography but Michael Bays' Transformers was so terrible. I am glad that Shia has obtained better roles with Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) & Honey Boy (2019)
In this semi-autobiography, a child actor navigates his stormy childhood in attempt to find inncr peace in his adulthood.
With Honey Boy, LaBeouf has invited his audience to participate in a private, personal form of dramatic therapy. He lays all his cards on the table in attempt to confront his emotional and psychological hangups; giving a "tell all" without the boring head documentary that we've come to expect from filmed confessions.
Director Har’el, along with her two credited editors (Dominic LaPerriere, Monica Salazar), has structured Honey Boy with several sharp cuts between the two periods in time. There are dream sequences of reconciliation that also help capture the characters' inner turmoil. Honey Boy is a smart, well written film that works on multiple levels and is a complex character study of a fractured mind.
This picture is a hard watch, especially for those who are survivors of childhood trauma, but it is a worthwhile viewing that may help one find peace in their own lives. I was impressed by LaBeouf's willingness to put himself out there; to make peace with his demons once and for all.
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