• About Us
  • Advertising on Awards Daily
Sunday, March 26, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
Awardsdaily
  • Home
  • Good As Gold
  • AD TV
  • Calendar 2023
  • Podcasts
  • Interviews
  • Follow us on Twitter
    • Awards Daily
    • Sasha Stone
    • Ryan Adams
    • Clarence Moye
    • Mark Johnson
  • All News
  • Home
  • Good As Gold
  • AD TV
  • Calendar 2023
  • Podcasts
  • Interviews
  • Follow us on Twitter
    • Awards Daily
    • Sasha Stone
    • Ryan Adams
    • Clarence Moye
    • Mark Johnson
  • All News
No Result
View All Result
Awardsdaily
No Result
View All Result


Interview: Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell talk about family, addiction, and recovery in Beautiful Boy

by Jordan Ruimy
October 15, 2018
in Interviews
1
Interview: Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell talk about family, addiction, and recovery in Beautiful Boy

Director Felix Van Groeningen has adapted two memoirs — by father and son David and Nic Sheff — into his first American film Beautiful Boy. David (Steve Carell) lives with son Nic (Timothee Chalamet) and second wife Karen (Maura Tierney) in their comfortable San Francisco home. Their family is shattered by tragedy when Nic becomes addicted to methamphetamine. Beautiful Boy follows the tortuous journey of Nic’s continuous cycle of relapse and recovery.

The promise of Chalamet’s extraordinary breakthrough performance in “Call Me By Your Name” is fulfilled by his passionate portrayal of Nic. Chalamet is astonishing, finding a level of dramatic depth and compassion for character that most actors only dream of reaching. Carrel, more famous as a comedic actor once again proves to be a solid dramatic one as well, infusing the movie with anguish and wisdom in a performance that ranks among his very best.

We spoke to both actors about the film.

Did you know about David and Nic’s story before you signed on to this project?

SC: Before my agent sent me the script, I didn’t. Once I had the script in hand I read the book and did some research and that ultimately is what enticed me to do it.

TC: I knew of it because the novel, which was in circulation for 8 or 9 years, had this beautifully striped cover with striking red and Nic’s face was somewhat obscured. I remember seeing that cover at a bookstore in New York, I think it was at The Source. When I got to read it there was an urgency to the story that makes the individuality of being a part of it somewhat ironic because I feel like Steve and I feel the same way, there’s an urgency to it that needed to be told. However, I was also dying to work with Steve, he’s already made amazing films, so, from an acting perspective, these opportunities are rare.

Was part of the research meeting the family?

SC: Oh most definitely, specifically David, he is exactly what you would expect after you’ve read the book. He’s compassionate, kind, gentle, strong and intelligent but, beyond that, I think he’s incredibly generous to have shared this story and allowed it to be interpreted as a movie, which always strikes me as a courageous act. We were essentially strangers to David and Nic, and he allowed these people to do an artistic interpretation of something so close to him.

TC: The aspects of using, I tried to understand what the physical symptoms to that would be, there are plenty of resources for that now online, but more intently, I wanted to look at what the experience would be as far as rehab goes for this drug which means being isolated from your family and your life and your loved ones and trying to make changes in your life at a very young age.

After all that, what was their reaction to watching their story on-screen?

TC: At the Q&A last night, it was tremendously moving, I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a moment like that. I’d like to think that the book and the movie operate at a human level; this isn’t a film driven by special effects, it’s about human experiences, and more importantly, something millions are going through right now, so just purely on a human level it’s beyond explanation to see David and Nic crying as they watch you playing them [laughs].

SC: I just can’t imagine what it would be like, let alone being portrayed in a movie, but to have something raw and so personal being portrayed. It shows so much courage and dedication to helping others.

Steve, as a father of two teenagers, how did you prepare? There must be a deep, emotional current going through you, knowing that the opioid crisis is an epidemic that could touch any family.

All I can say is I’m a dad, ultimately that’s all I needed because it’s the most terrifying scenario a parent could imagine. And it’s pretty easy to put yourself in that mindset because you’re not far from it any given day, like, as soon as you have kids you begin to worry about them and all you want to do in your life is protect your kids. And so, in meeting David, he’s exactly that type of Dad, he couldn’t be more thoughtful, loving and caring.

There’s a scene where Nic calls his father and is basically crying out for help, but the father, having had enough of the constant on-off relapse, makes the hard decision of saying ‘No, I can’t help you.’

SC: That is one of the toughest moments, and I think, as a father, to have gotten to that place where you have to say those words, it’s the most unnatural thing a parent can do, it goes against every fiber of my being to say no or to deny a child.

Timothee, your character is fleshed out in scarily realistic ways. You really inhabit this role. Meth as a drug has been depicted in pop culture in ways that don’t necessarily look at the sometimes insurmountable recovery that comes with it, this movie does.

TC: It’s a movie about addiction and using, in many ways, I think it’s also a movie about family, recovery and what it is to try and break habits and in particular a substance like methamphetamine which even compared to a drug like heroin has no natural properties, it devastates the areas it’s made in, it’s all bad, there’s nothing good about it and to try and beat it as an addict, given all the insurmountable rates, and then you add youth in that mix, the fact that you have people going through it that aren’t adults yet, the challenge increases.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Print
Tags: Beautiful BoySteve CarellTimothee Chalamet
Jordan Ruimy

Jordan Ruimy

Related Posts

Director David Millbern on Capturing ‘100 Years of Men in Love’

Director David Millbern on Capturing ‘100 Years of Men in Love’

by Ben Morris
March 20, 2023
6

David Millbern’s new TV special 100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection tells the story of Neal Treadwell...

2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind ’Argentina, 1985’ Remains More Relevant Than Ever

2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind ’Argentina, 1985’ Remains More Relevant Than Ever

by Shadan Larki
March 4, 2023
0

Argentina, 1985, Oscar-nominated for Best International Feature Film, tells the true story of the Trial of the Juntas, where members...

2023 Oscar Nominee ‘Fire of Love:’ How Editors and Co-Writers Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput Crafted the Krafft Love Story

2023 Oscar Nominee ‘Fire of Love:’ How Editors and Co-Writers Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput Crafted the Krafft Love Story

by Shadan Larki
March 3, 2023
0

In a joint conversation with Awards Daily, editors Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput, who co-wrote Fire of Love, alongside director Sara Dosa...

fire of love navalny

Double Oscar Nominee & Producer Shane Boris Talks What ‘Fire of Love’ & ‘Navalny’ Have in Common

by Megan McLachlan
March 2, 2023
0

Awards Daily talks to double Oscar nominee, Shane Boris, who produced Best Documentary Feature contenders Fire of Love and Navalny....

Melissa Rauch On Presiding Over a New ‘Night Court’ Era

Melissa Rauch On Presiding Over a New ‘Night Court’ Era

by Joey Moser
February 28, 2023
0

It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. Sometimes an entirely new cast tries to cash in...

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Composer Volker Bertelmann on Destabilizing the Audience Through Music

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Composer Volker Bertelmann on Destabilizing the Audience Through Music

by David Phillips
February 23, 2023
0

Film composer Volker Bertelmann took an abstract and minimalist approach to the score of the nine-time Oscar nominated film from...

Next Post
Interview: Ethan Tobman On Creating Nic Sheff’s Bedroom and The World of Beautiful Boy

Interview: Ethan Tobman On Creating Nic Sheff's Bedroom and The World of Beautiful Boy

Whoopi Goldberg Conducts In Conversation Event with Forest Whitaker During Finale Screening of ‘Godfather of Harlem’

Whoopi Goldberg Conducts In Conversation Event with Forest Whitaker During Finale Screening of ‘Godfather of Harlem’

March 25, 2023
daisy jones and the six ayesha harris

Daisy Jones & The Six’s Ayesha Harris on Whether Bernie is in a Love Triangle with Simone and Daisy

March 25, 2023
Reframe: Zero Dark Thirty

Reframe: Zero Dark Thirty

March 25, 2023
daisy jones and the six ayesha harris

Daisy Jones & The Six’s Ayesha Harris on Whether Bernie is in a Love Triangle with Simone and Daisy

by Megan McLachlan
March 25, 2023
0

Awards Daily chats with Ayesha Harris, who plays Bernie on Amazon's Daisy Jones & The Six, about her character's backstory...

2023 Emmy Predictions: Have Our Drama and Comedy Series Emmy Winners Marched In?

2023 Emmy Predictions: Have Our Drama and Comedy Series Emmy Winners Marched In?

by Clarence Moye
March 24, 2023
5

It's time to start taking the Emmy race seriously. Especially since the month of March debuted two extraordinarily strong contenders...

The Best of SXSW 2023: ‘Air,’ ‘John Wick,’’Dungeons & Dragons’ and More Epic Crowd-Pleasers

The Best of SXSW 2023: ‘Air,’ ‘John Wick,’’Dungeons & Dragons’ and More Epic Crowd-Pleasers

by Shadan Larki
March 24, 2023
6

I’m a few days removed from SXSW 2023; I’ve given myself time to sit with the 30+ movies and TV...

Apple Joins Amazon in Committing to Help Save Theaters

Apple Joins Amazon in Committing to Help Save Theaters

by Sasha Stone
March 23, 2023
66

The debate rages on as to whether films in theaters will survive. We already know event films will have no...

Doezzz ‘Yellowjackets’ Zzzeason 2 Avoid the Dreaded Zzzophomore Zzzlump?

Doezzz ‘Yellowjackets’ Zzzeason 2 Avoid the Dreaded Zzzophomore Zzzlump?

by Clarence Moye
March 21, 2023
0

We're back after a week off following the Academy Awards, and we're diving into one of our most feverishly anticipated...

daisy jones & the six music supervisor frankie pine

Music Supervisor Frankie Pine On Turning the Cast of ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ Into Rock Stars

by Megan McLachlan
March 17, 2023
2

Daisy Jones & The Six music supervisor Frankie Pine talks to Awards Daily about band camp, featuring "Gold Dust Woman"...

AwardsDaily Crew

  • About Us
  • Sasha Stone
  • Editor Ryan Adams
  • Editor Clarence Moye
  • Editor Mark Johnson
  • Contact Us

ADTV Crew

  • ADTV Home
  • Megan McLachlan, Editor
  • Joey Moser, Editor
  • Clarence Moye, Editor
  • Jalal Haddad, Senior Contributor
  • Shadan Larki
  • Ben Morris
  • David Phillips
  • Advertising on Awards Daily
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Oscar Podcast
  • AwardsDailyTV

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Good As Gold
  • AD TV
  • Calendar 2023
  • Podcasts
  • Interviews
  • Follow us on Twitter
    • Awards Daily
    • Sasha Stone
    • Ryan Adams
    • Clarence Moye
    • Mark Johnson
  • All News

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In