‘Honey Boy’: Shia LaBeouf’s Masterpiece Directed by Alma Har’el
It was April 27th, 2018 when uber-talented costume designer Natalie O’Brien reached out to us regarding a new project she would be working on. Fast Forward one year later and ‘Honey Boy’, Shia LaBeouf’s autobiographical screenwriting debut nearly tops ‘Avengers: Endgame’ with its rock-solid box office debut and outshines Netflix’s well-reviewed festival hit “Marriage Story,” starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.
The talent on and off camera includes award-winning documentarian Alma Har’el of LOVETRUE and Bombay Beach whose enchanting camerawork beautifully breathes a sense of hypnotic genius into Honey Boy which could very well be Shia LaBeouf’s ultimate artistic masterpiece. Shia completely submerges himself into the role of his father; methodically channeling emotions of pure rage, resentment, and defeat. His costars Noah Jupe (young Otis/Shia) and Lucas Hedges (Otis/Shia) succeed in emotionally articulating the endless trauma faced by LaBeouf while navigating through the generational wounds of past and present. FKA Twigs, the movie’s ‘Shy Girl’ briefly but impactfully achieves a more compassionate - albeit confusing - relationship with young Otis whilst playing his mystical neighbor.
Natalie O’Brien, Honey Boy’s Costume Designer effortlessly captures the essence of FKA Twigs aka Shy Girl’s character (a Mary Magdalene of sorts) by dressing her in see-through camisoles, gold hoops, Bonheur Jewelry ear cuffs and layered necklaces with cross pendants and gold rings, complete with over-the-knee patent leather boots. For Noah Jupe (young Otis), O’Brien masterfully dresses young Otis in custom Bonheur Jewelry ‘Alissa’ necklaces layered around his neck with yellow silk pajamas, dark sunglasses, and a fur coat highlighting the scene’s mega-rich, butler-hiring, child star vibes whilst revisiting a Disney Channel Even Stevens episode.
A cast and crew of epic dreams. Filming tirelessly for 19 days straight yet conveying the clear and genuine, heart pouring work of a man at pains attempting to gain insight into his past in order to alleviate his present torment all the while refraining from vilifying the sources of his trauma.
