Written By Shia LaBeouf
I grew up watching Even Stevens on the Disney Channel then got I grew up watching Even Stevens on the Disney Channel religiously, enjoyed the film adaptation of Holes, then got hooked onto the Transformers franchise, which all featured and starred Shia LeBeouf. He was always likable on the big screen and off-screen until he hit a rough patch of controversies and legal problems starting in 2013.
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 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 acting 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 therapy and imagination as hope.
Amazon Studios
Insight into the upbringing of an A-list child actor.
Sitting at 94% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, this movie was risky to begin with being a candid look at stardom, but it definitely earns high praise. The most entertaining part of this film was Shia LaBeouf playing his own father who was extremely flawed yet loved by his son regardless. This movie is very personal and painful at times but showcases Shia’s writing and acting abilities. The honesty and heart of this movie pays off, creating a one of a kind film. Despite the dark subject matter, this movie is not hard to watch and highlights what trauma can do to oneself.
I give Honey Boy an 8/10 which is available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Video.