Beautiful Boy proves Timothée Chalamet is the real deal

Beautiful Boy chronicles Nic Sheff’s (Chalamet) meth addiction through the eyes of his father, David (Steve Carell). Together, the family deals with addiction, survival, relapse, and recovery, based on the memoirs by David and Nic.

I was so excited going into this movie—I couldn’t wait to see this movie that was supposed to tell an addiction story carefully and compassionately. Unfortunately, it ended up being one-note. This was lacking in any dynamism that would have brought energy or intensity to the plot. Instead, all interest came from the two main performances by Chalamet and Carell.

Timothée Chalamet is the real deal. He splashed onto the scene last year as Saoirse Ronan’s love interest in Ladybird, then hit it big as the lead in Call Me By Your Name with Armie Hammer. For the second year running, he’s coming out with some fantastic performances that could see him get some nominations—or at least a lot more praise. His performance is gripping and he wrings out all emotion he can from his character, Nic.

Carell is having his own renaissance with some great performances. He gives David a life I didn’t expect and somehow transforms the subtlest moments into some of the most heartbreaking scenes. Carell and Chalamet have an immediate bond that endures throughout the movie. It went past their dialogue, frequently talking at cross-purposes, and felt like a true father-son connection.

Both actors are really given time to languish here, with long shots that allow audiences to really dig into small changes or hidden feelings. The cinematography and editing are also real winners here. Shots of Carell are careful, smooth, focused. He’s always in the frame and comes off much more poised. What is captured of Chalamet is much more chaotic, from strange angles or partially obstructed. It’s more fragmented and hectic.

Beautiful Boy is presented and performed well, but the plot and script failed to make it a great movie.

The 2014 Oscars have few surprises (+ Full Winner List)

Tonight’s Oscars might not have had many surprises but it was enjoyable. Ellen Degeneres brought some humour in her opening monologue but nothing over the top. The best moment of her opening was when she hinted flat out brought up Academy racism by saying that if 12 Years a Slave didn’t win Best Picture, then they were all racists. Some may be none too pleased with that comment but I absolutely loved it. Good news? It won.

Ellen’s running gag of the night was when she talked about ordering pizza. The surprise was about half an hour later when a couple pizzas actually showed up. It was great to see Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey walking around helping to hand out pizzas and paper plates. Also interesting seeing them all eating off paper plates in those fancy outfits. Later on, Ellen went around with Pharrell’s hat getting cash from Harvey Weinstein, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey and others to cover the pizza costs. I wonder what she did with that money? Also wonder what she did with Lupita Nyong’o’s lip gloss…

In the end, I’d say it was a successful evening. Most of my picks won, with the only disappointment being for best actor. Will Ellen host again? We don’t know yet but I wouldn’t be upset about it. She seemed to infuse a youthfulness into the show which had been missing in the past few years. Then again, I also wouldn’t say no to a Jim Carry hosting gig.

Best picture — “12 Years a Slave”
Best director — Alfonso Cuaron — “Gravity”
Best actor — Matthew McConaughey — “Dallas Buyers Club”
Best actress — Cate Blanchett — “Blue Jasmine”
Best supporting actor — Jared Leto — “Dallas Buyers Club”
Best supporting actress — Lupita Nyong’o — “12 Years a Slave”
Best original screenplay — “Her” — Spike Jonze
Best adapted screenplay — “12 Years a Slave” — John Ridley
Best animated feature — “Frozen”
Best foreign feature — “The Great Beauty” (Italy)
Best music (original song) — “Frozen”: “Let it Go” — Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Best music (original score) — “Gravity” — Steven Price
Best cinematography — “Gravity” — Emmanuel Lubezki
Best costume design — “The Great Gatsby” — Catherine Martin
Best documentary feature — “20 Feet From Stardom”
Best film editing — “Gravity” — Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger
Best makeup and hairstyling — “Dallas Buyers Club” — Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
Best production design — “The Great Gatsby” — Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn
Best visual effects — “Gravity”
Best sound mixing — “Gravity”
Best sound editing — “Gravity”
Best short film, live action — “Helium”
Best short film, animated — “Mr. Hublot”
Best documentary short — “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life”

My Thoughts on the Golden Globes

I can’t really describe the dresses, I didn’t like too much of them. If I see one during the show I’ll mention it here then.

Johnny Depp is such a fucking bamf. I can’t handle his awesomeness. Ricky Gervais talking to him was pretty lovely. His voice. His outfit. His everything. Hnnnng. Hugo looks good too.

Christopher Plummer is so wonderful, his reference to Ewan McGregor was beautiful.

**Jullianne Moore’s dress is wonderful** The failure of the teleprompter. good job!

Miss. Golden Globe is so pretty!!!

Cinema Verite, The Hour, Mildred Pierce, and Too Big Too Fail look good. Downton Abbey is always so wonderful. Yay Downton Abbey for winning!

MY EMOTIONS AT KATE WINSLET WINNING. I’M SO FUCKING EXCITED. YAY YOU’RE GORGEOUS AND WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL AND I’M HAPPY LEAVE ME BE. She always goes over time though, it’s lovely.

**Frieda Pinto’s dress is so wonderful in it’s simplicity** why do they keep showing clips of Leo DiCaprio though? Midnight in Paris was such a fun little movie.

Jeremy Irons you’re beauitful.

Jake Gyllenhaal. Enough said. (but My Week With Marilyn wasn’t supposed to be that good).

I feel like Ricky Gervais is taking a dig out of Kate’s thank you speech right now. You’re wonderful. Salma Hayek looks so distraught by what he just said.

**Melissa McCarthy’s dress is so single & nice.**

I don’t like Kelsey Grammer though. American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire, and Game of Thrones look fantastic and NONE of them won. What is this travesty.

Adam Levine and Jimmy Fallon are so fucking amazing. I don’t know how to handle this. Jimmy is dancing and being crazy and Adam is trying to be all casual… And then there’s George just sitting their ..watching them. But seeing as The Artist is a silent film the score should be freaking amazing. So I’m pretty happy they just won.

I’m sorry I’m French. I love French people. It’s a French movie. Dude Clive Owen’s here? You’re hot. Also, you’re showing Leo so much. Camera guys, you rule! oooh. Good job Madonna :) WHY ARE YOU GIVING MADONNA SO MUCH TIME TO SPEAK THOUGH? SHE’S BEEN SLOW AND BORING.

**Deborah Messing’s dress is plain and nice.**

Brad Pitt what are you doing. Cut your hair. You’re really hot and you and your boy George had the cutest little thing there. Ides of March looks gooood.

**Sarah Michelle Gellar’s dress is spectacular** yay game of thrones won something! Peter Dinklage is adorable!

George Clooney you adorable beast. I’m so glad you’re joking with Brad Pitt and showcasing each others movies. Moneyball yayyy.

**Jessica Alba looks gorgeous** Success for The Adventures of Tintin!

Ewan McGregor you’re so beautiful. I’m so happy you’re introducing 50/50.

**What is Nicole Kidman wearing?** Midnight in Paris was wonderful though.

Madonna you are so wonderful. Gervais and Madonna are beautiful together. As well as Elton John. Yay for the Iranian movie winning!

**Claire Danes is wonderful. Your dress is interesting**

Emily Blunt you’re beautiful. Yellow is your colour. Can I have your accent please?

**Tina Fey you’re so amazing, 30 Rock is so fantastic.** I really hoped that Johnny Galecki would win!

Bradley Cooper you’re beautiful. Please support me? Yay for the Help! Octavia Spencer WOOHOO! She’s so adorable.

**Reese Witherspoon”s dress is so red… and balfdjkafjefj I’m not sure how I feel about this**

SIDNEY POITER YOU’RE A FUCKING BAMF. YOU JUST GOT A STANDING OVATION FOR WALKING ON STAGE. YOU DIDN’T EVEN DO ANYTHING. YOU’RE MY FAVOURITE PERSON EVER. ALL THE AWARDS. Morgan Freeman is a bamf too though. And I’m so excited that you’re getting the Cecile B. Demile award this year. Helen Mirren is so amazing. Why has she not been in more movies with Morgan Freeman? I COULD HAVE BEEN A PENGUIN OH.MY.GOD. I’M DEAD.

Robert Downey Jr. you look so lovely. The Artist looks so good!

**Angelina Jolie has a really interesting dress, and I definitely think I like it** HOLY FUCK YES MARTIN SCORSESE YOU ARE MY BIGGEST FRIEND. LEO DICAPRIO LOOKS SO INCREDIBLY PLEASED. I’m excited he won for Hugo.

Ricky Gervais brings booze on stage every time with him.

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas. What even. My love for life. Antonio please keep speaking to me. RICKY WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? WHY DID THEY BLEEP IT OUT? I WANT TO KNOW :( Antonio speaking lots of Spanish. TAKE ME NOW.

**Mark Wahlberg looks so beautiful! But wtf is Jessica Biel wearing?** JGL SHOULD WIN BEST ACTOR. But I support Jean Dujardin too. He has such beautiful eyebrows.

I actively refuse Queen Latifah.

Colin Firth just jokingly kicked Ricky Gervais. You’re wonderful. I love how Colin is so dignified but totally not all at the same time. I’m so happy that Meryl Streep just won <3

I’m happy for the Artist winning! WHY IS THERE A DOG! AAAAH. So cute.

Every actor is so deserving for Best Actor. But I’ll accept George Clooney. Did he seriously make mention of Michael Fassbender’s nudity in his thankyou speech?

HARRISON FORD IS SUCH A BADASS. I’m happy that the Descendent’s won though. I guess.