When I think of Shia LaBeouf, I think about the first time I ever heard of him. He was on the premiere season of HBO’s “Project Greenlight” which is produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It’s this really interesting show about what it takes to make a movie in Hollywood.
And in the process of producing their first movie, they cast Shia LaBeouf in The Battle of Shaker Heights, which was a decent film. But, I was incredibly impressed by this kid’s performance and I have been intrigued by his career ever since.
He was challenged and came out looking like a rock star. Then, a few years later I stumbled onto Holes, which I guess came out in the same year as Shaker Heights, but while he was a little less refined in his acting, he was still an incredibly talented little dude.
Then, super stardom hit him with Transformers in 2007, where he was opposite the always controversial, and dead sexy, Megan Fox. He more than held his own opposite great comedic talents and imaginary robots, to say nothing of all the pyrotechnics and crazy #Bayffects on set.
After that, he transformed not as an actor, but as a person. He wasn’t really prepared for how fame would hit him, and while it is glib to say “Oh, poor little rich him” fame really isn’t for everyone. It changes people, it prevents them from being able to just have a normal conversation with someone . . . for the rest of their lives. Believe me, I know a few famous people.
I just found out about his work in The Peanut Butter Falcon where he so impressed our resident writer, Alyn Darnay. So, again, “this kid” can act. That’s never been his problem.
His problem has always been his identity, and to me, what molds a person is how they are brought up. What influences their every decision? With Honey Boy, not surprisingly, we are going to learn it is Shia’s father that has shaped Shia’s personality.
And, holy hell, Shia is going to play his father – or at least a Hollywood amalgam or perception of what Shia (who wrote the screenplay) believes his father is.
Now, as far as my personal and political beliefs, I think Shia is completely insane, but I have never looked at him as a bad guy. He is just this kid, wandering around in the universe trying to get a sense of self. And being an actor has got to be the most challenging way to go about doing that. But, Shia has always enjoyed a challenge, and I am sure I will enjoy watching Honey Boy.
