Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell star in a scene from the movie "Beautiful Boy." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Amazon Studios)

By Catholic News Service

The sheer randomness of drug addiction — in this case, to crystal meth — and the ensuing raw family pain are covered effectively, although succinctly, in this adaptation of two memoirs by journalist David Sheff (Steve Carell) and his oldest son, Nic (Timothee Chalamet).

There are no solutions offered in this drama, no speeches and no moralizing. Instead, as directed by Felix Van Groeningen from a script he co-wrote with Luke Davies, the story finds Dad trying to be supportive to the point of exhaustion until he realizes that his son has to solve the problem for himself.

Frequent drug use, a scene of implied non-marital sexual activity, pervasive rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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