Beautiful Boy

Name: Beautiful Boy
Genre: Drama
Released: June 3, 2011
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 62

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Beautiful Boy

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Movie Details & Credits

Anchor Bay Films | Release Date: June 3, 2011 | R

Summary: Parents in a rocky marriage are hit with the shocking news that their eighteen-year-old son has committed a mass shooting at his college before taking his own life. Separated from the rest of the world by this incomprehensible act, they find their marital troubles gradually taking a back seat to the traumatic situation thrust uponParents in a rocky marriage are hit with the shocking news that their eighteen-year-old son has committed a mass shooting at his college before taking his own life. Separated from the rest of the world by this incomprehensible act, they find their marital troubles gradually taking a back seat to the traumatic situation thrust upon them.(Goldrush Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Shawn Ku

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Nathan Rabin

Jun 2, 2011

Like its fellow crowd-depressor "Blue Valentine," Beautiful Boy offers the antithesis of escapism: a claustrophobic, punishingly intense, beautifully measured exploration of the depths of human despair. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Wade Major

Jun 7, 2011

Beautiful Boy is a discerning film lover's off-season tonic, regardless of where, when or how it's seen. What matters most is simply that it be seen. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Jun 2, 2011

A grim, thought-provoking drama. It aims to be both heartbreaking and (in an odd way) inspirational, although the former is more convincingly conveyed than the latter. Read full review

Joe Leydon

May 29, 2011

Although it's very much a contemporary yarn, there's a distinctly '70s feel to much of Beautiful Boy. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Jun 9, 2011

Not an entertainment but an experience. And a kind of cinematic sensitivity training. Read full review

Rick Groen

Jun 16, 2011

The whole project labours towards an importance it never earns. In Beautiful Boy, the themes are vast but the picture is small, and the ensuing emptiness is what the characters are meant to feel – not us. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Jun 3, 2011

Beautiful Boy ends up being an endurance test. Read full review

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User Reviews

inaneswine

Nov 14, 2017

It can be hard to evaluate a film such as this. Its striking realism is both a gift and a curse: seeing its protagonists in their naturally empty and shell-shocked state for much of the film doesn't make for entertaining viewing - nonetheless its emotional scenes pack such a weighty punch,It can be hard to evaluate a film such as this. Its striking realism is both a gift and a curse: seeing its protagonists in their naturally empty and shell-shocked state for much of the film doesn't make for entertaining viewing - nonetheless its emotional scenes pack such a weighty punch, heightened by Sheen and Bello's terrific performances, you can truly feel their agony.

While the fallout from the unconscionable number of tragedies that inspired this film tends to focus mainly on the perpetrator, then on the victims and their families, "Beautiful Boy" wisely forces its audience to think about the side of the story that is rarely heard.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

asylumspadez

Nov 27, 2011

Aside from the good acting by the leads in this film, The entire film is boring and lacks that emotional connection that should have been there. Its a poor job by the director for not making this film more real then what it should have been. Also I hated how the director was literally upAside from the good acting by the leads in this film, The entire film is boring and lacks that emotional connection that should have been there. Its a poor job by the director for not making this film more real then what it should have been. Also I hated how the director was literally up close and personal in every shot.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

beingryanjude

Aug 24, 2014

Michael Sheen and Maria Bello both give notable performances as grief-stricken parents coping with the unthinkable. The premise is dark, relating to many tragedies such as this in recent years.

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