Review of Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy (2010)
7/10
Strong performances in film about grief
23 June 2013
This is a film about the parents of a teenager being responsible for a school massacre. It's not about the violence, but about the nightmare it is to be the parents of what has been a nice boy, doing atrocities.

This film is about coping, about dealing with something that can't be undone, about getting through, about reconciliation, about trying to move on. and it succeeds well. but don't expect this to be a drama filled with excitement. this is made give bot expressions and hope. It's a love story, and an unusual one, about surviving the impossible.

Maria Bello and Michael Sheen does another great acting job here. I'm not too fond of the clipping technique or the camera movements here. But it doesn't ruin the storytelling. when the film takes an unexpected turn, it adds to the reality of it. It's not easy what they are going through. We follow the reactions, the realization and the up-waking from the sorrow.

Very realistically told I guess in every aspect, and interesting as it's just seen from the parent's point of view. That is both interesting and important, as this is rarely a view of such a case which we rarely think about and experience. In a way this film both gives us the feeling, and an impression of there still being hope even after an unspeakable tragedy like this.

Meat Loaf is turning up in a y role as a motel clerk.
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