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Beautiful Boy Film review

Based on two memoirs from a father and son, the movie presents difficult topics to an audience in a respectful and authentic manner. A heartbreakingly true story showing that the love between a parent and child truly has no limits. A father who has made a new family, while a son is struggling to keep his head above water. Chalamet who plays a young man, battling with addiction to crystal meth, his harrowing but authentic performance conveys the feeling of not being in control of destructive behavior. Although the movie has a somewhat complicated story line which switches from past to present representing the relapse within Nicks life, it at no point felt boring or confusing.  

           Chalamet and Carell bring forward the parental relationship heartaches that can take place during these events, showing that there is no boundry or limit to a parent's love. Carell plays a grieving father mourning the innocent child he once knew; throughout the entire movie you can see the fine line between love and resentment. The sensitive nature of the topics within this movie is not taken lightly, at no point does the portrayal of addictions feel distasteful. The lack of glamorization of abuse, which too often is shown within the media, shows how addiction can tear a family apart. The feeling of begging to get better, begging for strength becomes second nature to Nick (Chalamet), when his father no longer provides the help and care that Nick so desperately pleads for, Nick must face the truth and help himself.  

       It is for the children who carry the burden of their lives, the ones who live with regret, it will break you into pieces while comforting you as it shows that life does get better. Recovery is not linear, it is not something that will happen overnight, but instead it will make you question everything in your life and question if the pain is worth it. If you cannot save people, can you be there for them instead, sometimes giving up is the hardest thing in the world. And sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is just sit in silence with them, as the movie so gracefully shows you cannot help a person until they want to help themselves, addiction is not a death sentence but ignoring it can be.  

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Matilda

I can't help but feel incredibly guilty for relating to Matilda. In certain situations, it feels wrong to relate to something so deeply but also not be able to relate to it at all in actuality I have no reason to relate to a song about childhood neglect and not feeling life you have a family. I grew up with a loving and caring family who would do anything for me, but they have also done irreparable damage to my mental health and have driven me to severe states of depression. I am in a constant state of guilt for wanting to distance myself from them. Although they showed me love it was at times hard to feel, their love came in a form that felt like burning from an iron stake, a form of being dismissed. Always being told that somebody has it worse (they have/have had it worse).  

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How I turned my dad into a Harry Styles Fan.

How I made my dad, who very much disliked Harry Styles, happily listen to his songs. To give some backstory to the situation, I am a huge Harry Styles fan like stay up till midnight the night before my Biology A-level to listen to his album in full and have read all his favorite books. Two and a half years ago after my mother told him repeatedly that he would not get tickets my dad got tickets to see Harryween in MSG (New York being one of my favorite places in the world it seemed like fate), then covid happened and it got postponed.  

Covid hit and I really really didn’t want to live anymore there would be days when I would wake up and just feel numb to the world, not sad or angry just numb, feeling like everything I was doing was wrong and I needed to change myself. So, when life became all too much for 16-year-old me to manage I made a deal with myself that after I saw Harry Styles play Fine Line in Madison Square Gardens for Harryween I could do whatever I wanted (and felt like I needed) to do. The thing was that Fine Line as a song told me everything I wanted to hear, it gave me reassurance that everything was going to be okay, someone actively telling me that we’ll be alright in a world where everything felt the opposite. 

I often say Fine Line is the song that saved my life and I think people often look over the impact of my words, a song by an artist that I have loved since I was five years old who I have never met did more for me than every other person in my life, it could truly drag me out of the pits of hell if needed. The truth is that every night I would sit on the windowsill in my room and listen to Fine Line, sitting there telling myself that if I suffer through all the stuff going on in my life, I will be able to hear it live. Then the borders to America were closed meaning I couldn’t go to the concert at all. If you think post-concert depression is bad this is heartbreaking. In my entire life I have never cried as much as I did that night. 

Me crying every day and every night for a solid two months about Harry Styles made him a tense topic within my household, leading to him only being referred to as the one who shan’t be named like he was a real-life Voldemort. Then he released tickets for his UK tour and let me tell you the fear of not getting them tickets was very real and very big, but I managed to get tickets to his first show in Glasgow.  

Asking my dad to come see a man that he could not stand left him very confused, leading him to ask me every day why? And the truth is that after seeing me at my lowest and always supporting me throughout it all, I wanted to share my source of happiness with him. I was very aware that in that stadium I was going to be the happiest version of myself to ever exist, also making me the most vulnerable version. In all honesty I wouldn't just ask anyone to go to this concert with me, only the most special people in the world. 

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5SOS – Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, 8 April 2022.

If there was one thing to be said about this band it would be that their chemistry is truly real and engulfing, from the way they perform on stage to the natural attraction. Before the band even entered the stage the crowd was in a state of happiness, as if everyone there had been childhood friends, there was a sense of comfort within the confines of the building that truly reflected the vibe of the band.  

As soon as they entered the stage it was like entering another dimension, one of music and unity. Opening the performance with an energizing and invigorating song such as ‘No Shame’ set the show, the song coming from their 2020 Album CALM. Although your attention is immediately focused on the lead singer Luke Hemmings, it is the drummer Ashton Irwin that steals the show not only does he show and immediate talent and power, there also seems to be an energy coming from him the is truly unmatched, reminiscent of the late Taylor Hawkins, it seems as if he is on top of the world throughout the entire performance never flattening on his energy.  

While Ashton is on his own energy wave, the most fan interactions must go to Michael Clifford, the smile of his face resembles one of a kid in a candy store, it was clear to see that only does he genuinely loves performing on stage. Although Michael is known as the guitarist of 5sos it was very easy to see that his talents extend into singing during ‘Jet Black heart’. The song from their 2015 album ‘Sounds Good Feels Good’ ties the show together nicely while showing the band’s natural progression both lyrically and instrumentally. Not only did the interactions with fans seem organic, but their interactions with each other also seemed natural. It was very easy to see how the band is still strong after 10 years.  

For Luke Hemmings, the lead singer of the band, he truly shows his versatility as a singer during the whole concert, the songs sound identical to the recorded albums, it is amazing to see the natural talent of all members. Calum Hood seemed to be the favorite among the fans, always earning the biggest applause when doing a solo. There was an easiness within the band onstage that enabled a truly energetic aura.