Honey Boy (2019)

A young actor's stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health.

Director:

Alma Har'el

Writer:

Shia LaBeouf

Stars:

Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe

10 wins & 39 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shia LaBeouf	...	James
Lucas Hedges	...	Otis (22)
Noah Jupe	...	Otis (12)
Byron Bowers	...	Percy
Laura San Giacomo	...	Dr. Moreno
FKA Twigs	...	Shy Girl
Natasha Lyonne	...	Mom
Maika Monroe	...	Sandra
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Tom
Mario Ponce	...	Tiny
Martin Starr	...	Alec
Haylee Sanchez	...	Working Girl 1
Giovanni Lopes	...	Rehab Nurse
Dorian Brown Pham	...	Pam (as Dorian Pham)
Greta Jung	...	AD

Storyline

From a screenplay by Shia LaBeouf, based on his own experiences, award-winning filmmaker Alma Har'el brings to life a young actor's stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father through cinema and dreams. Fictionalizing his childhood's ascent to stardom, and subsequent adult crash-landing into rehab and recovery, Har'el casts Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges as Otis Lort, navigating different stages in a frenetic career. LaBeouf takes on the daring and therapeutic challenge of playing a version of his own father, an ex-rodeo clown and a felon. Artist and musician FKA Twigs makes her feature-film debut, playing neighbor and kindred spirit to the younger Otis in their garden-court motel home. Har'el's feature narrative debut is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between filmmaker and subject, exploring art as medicine and imagination as hope.

---

Plot Keywords:

father son relationship | written by star | alcoholic | pie in the face | pie fight | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual material and drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shia hadn't spoken to his father for 7 years prior to making this movie

---

Quotes

James Lort: Love sells diapers, pal.
Otis (12): She holds my hand. You slap me in the face.
James Lort: Well, I'm your father. You can't buy that shit.
Otis (12): Yes, you can. I do.

---

Crazy Credits

There's a brief shot in the middle of the end credits.

---

Connections

Featured in Chris Stuckmann Quick Movie Reviews: Guns Akimbo, Honey Boy, Da 5 Bloods, Becky, The Lovebirds & More! (2020)

---

Soundtracks

My Struggles (feat. Mary J. Blige & Grand Puba)
Written by Missy Elliott
Performed by Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and Grand Puba

User Reviews

Hit close to home

Let me start by saying I am not an emotional person by any stretch. I dont think I have ever cried in front of my wife in the 15 years we have been together. This movie utterly destroyed me emotionally. I had to put up a blanket barrier between my head and my wife's as she slept for fear she would catch me sobbing like a little girl while watching this movie. This movie sucked me into a paradox of memories and emotions relating to the dynamic between me, my father, and my 3 children. It allowed me to put myself into the shoes of my children...and made me see very clearly for the first time in many years one thing. LOVE THOSE LITTLE ONES. HUG THEM, KISS THEM, LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND TELL THEM HOW VERY MUCH YOU LOVE THEM. The years pass and before you know it, it's too late to make up for lost time. I wish I could thank Shaia for making this movie. It helped me more than any therapy session ever could.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 November 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Honey Boy

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$301,065, 10 November 2019

Gross USA:

$3,012,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,400,977

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amazon Studios, Stay Gold Features, Kindred Spirit

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1