The Annual Steve Carell Push for an Oscar Nomination

There are some actors who take roles simply to overact their way to an Oscar nomination.  Remember when Jim Carrey was hot and desperate to show that he wasn't a goofy comic?  Every year we were treated to him taking on a serious role in a failed attempt to get an Academy Award.

The latest one to go through this annual acting enema is Steve Carell, the guy from the show I never ever watch "The Office."  Here's an odd side bar fact.  Many year ago, my writing partner and I were delivering a script to his wife for a reading we were conducting.  She wasn't home but he was.   Sitting on the couch and eating potato chips.  True story.

But I digress...

Well, Carell is the latest dude to overact his way to big screen stardom in a "drama" and I don't think much of his work.   It's all pretty darn obvious.  Indeed, though, his latest attempt in "Beautiful Boy" comes the closest to being a somewhat organic performance.  Partly because he's fairly contained and not chewing up the scenery.  Mainly because he's playing a real person...a Rolling Stone writer named David Sheff.

Yep, this is one of those "based on a true story" yarns.  Frankly, my primary reason for seeing it was because the wonderful Maura Tierney is in the case and I love her to death for her work on Showtime's "The Affair."  But I am glad I saw it because I am guessing there will be some Oscar buzz.  Mainly for co-star Timothee Chalamet's performance as the crystal meth-addicted son of Sheff.  This kid got an Oscar nom last year for his work in the grossly over rated and miscast "Call Me By Your Name."  He's got quite the career ahead of him.  Expect another Oscar nom primarily because Hollywood is a sucker for an character who continually shoves a needle into his arm.

"Beautiful Boy" tells the story of David Sheff and his attempts to get his addicted son Nic unaddicted.   The fact that it is all true makes what you see on the screen all the more harrowing, especially when you think about the millions of other people fighting the same fight.  Dad and step mom here struggle for the ways to get through to the kid.  What will work?  Being overly attentive?  Leaving him alone?  Support groups?  Dry out centers?  The folks in this tale don't know the answers.  They try everything and nothing really works.  Again, just how many folks go through this?  I think of my own friend who just passed away after a long, long battle with alcoholism.  He tried all the usual routes as well.  Nothing really worked for long.

"Beautiful Boy" is a tough one to watch, but the story is compelling and makes you think long and hard about all those waging this battle in real life.   The acting is dynamic with Chalamet leading the way.

And even Steve Carell has moments where he shines.  Go figure.   

LEN'S RATING:  Three stars.

Dinner last night:  Leftover sausage and onions.