This was a "good" film, but not great. Screen adaptations of books are almost always disappointing, but this one was especially so for this viewer. The book "Beautiful Boy" felt so wrenching, deep, authentic. I wonder if the film tried to do too much? Although it touched on a number of important and relevant pieces of the story, it really did not build an emotional connection with viewers. In many of the more difficult scenes, I WANTED to want to cry. But it just wasn't there.
I should also say that I've lived in many of these scenes with an addicted loved one. And the depth of the despair just was not palpable, even though I knew what emotion I was EXPECTING to feel. I didn't feel it, and that left me feeling even more hollow than if I hadn't had the actual experience. Did it feel inauthentic? I can't put my finger on exactly what it was. But sadly, this film was a "miss" for me.
I should also say that I've lived in many of these scenes with an addicted loved one. And the depth of the despair just was not palpable, even though I knew what emotion I was EXPECTING to feel. I didn't feel it, and that left me feeling even more hollow than if I hadn't had the actual experience. Did it feel inauthentic? I can't put my finger on exactly what it was. But sadly, this film was a "miss" for me.