Padre Pio lashes out at the man, accusing him of failing to really consider his demonic thoughts. Asia Argento, playing “Tall Man,” comes to the Father and confesses he has incestuous feelings toward his daughter. Only one scene stands out as a memorable oddity within Ferrara’s career. And given the revelations about the last time Shia attempted on-screen therapy in “ Honey Boy”- most of it was untrue-one has to question the veracity of any of this experiment, making it a grotesque show of public redemption instead of a truthful one. But 'Padre Pio' never clicks, and comes off more self-obsessed than revelatory. Given Ferrara’s general disinterest in making a traditional biopic, it might sound captivating to watch a tortured actor question his own behavior within that construct. We are not supposed to leave what we know of LaBeouf at the door. When he is debating issues of faith with a demon in an early scene and the being accuses him of having his “narcissistic way” with “countless women,” it is quite clearly a moment where the line between character and performer is supposed to blur.

After disappearing from the public eye for a year after the story broke in December 2020, LaBeouf chose this tale of redemption to make his return, and reportedly converted to Catholicism in the process. The star of “ The Peanut Butter Falcon” made this film about a year after allegations by ex-girlfriends FKA Twigs and Karolyn Pho regarding his abuse, which led to charges that will resurface in a trial scheduled for later this year. Before the pitchforks are raised about separating the art from the artist, potential viewers should know that Ferrara and LaBeouf clearly don’t want you to do that.

Labor strife.