That is both a blessing and a curse. Surprises? How does any addict? And she thinks shes covered all the tracks. Hedgess film may speak truths about issues of addiction and recovery, and the hell that addicts put their families through, but it cudgels viewers by having the characters talk about rigorous honesty" and truth as they obviously and ironically lie and connive. At the same time, a monologue Hedges delivers when Ben shares at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting is a powerful example of this young actors range, from swagger to introspection and, ultimately, regret. How can he live with what hes done? They start in very different places from where they end up. Anyone can read what you share. [10], In July 2018, LD Entertainment, Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate acquired distribution rights to the film, which they released on December 7, 2018. Happy to see him but Holly is also wary, as she does not want his instability to affect the other children. And Julias switch from happy mother shopping with her son to concerned and panicked mother is Mom, it was a joke. so powerful. Excuse me can I get a key to this door, please? This scene is a microcosm for the film that in Holly, at the beginning, you see the hope she has that this is going to be a fun thing. A young man speeds away from a gas station leaving his mother inside alone and with no ride. The film highlights many shades of Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges' central roles, Holly and Ben. The constant push-pull between Hedges and Roberts, the see-saw of the power dynamic as each tries to navigate this thorny situation, is the most compelling element of Ben Is Back. All the demons are still there, all the memories and the things Ben cant remember. Like her, I found myself constantly scanning Bens face: is he using again? [12], According to the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 221 reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. She scolds him for getting her son hooked on painkillers after a snowboarding accident when Ben was younger. Rated R The plot follows a mother who tries to help her addict son after he returns home from rehab. But hes also apprehensive about going into certain rooms in the houselike the attic, where he used to stash his drugsfor fear of the memories theyll conjure. That evening, the family returns home from church to find that someone has broken into their home and taken Ponce. In contrast, an episode where Holly vomits after piecing together what Ben did to get his history teachers Oxycontin is a bit much. Story of 19-year-old Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), a young man with substance abuse issues who unexpectedly returns to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. [Peter and Lucas Hedges never meant to make a movie together.]. But then in the second half of Ben Is Back, it becomes a different kind of movie: a low-key thriller in which Ben and Holly are forced to run around town, revisiting his misdeeds in search of clues to a mystery. Its not as interesting narratively or as relatable emotionally. And you will be helping support our website & our efforts. Filming also went underway in Garnerville, which was formerly known as Calicotown. The project was announced in October 2017, with Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts set to star. A woman hands her son a cup and tells him to provide a urine sample for drug testing. As the film suggests, his list of sins is wide and deep, and many of his past indiscretions will be revealed, like doors opening on an Advent calendar, over the course of the story. YouBen- will immediately submit to a drug test! An important filming location is Harriman State Park. When a young man doesn't remember a young woman, she tells him, "You were my dealer." SPOILERS AHEAD. The unit lensed scenes in St Johns Episcopal Church in Larchmont at 4 West Fountain Square. Ben is Back: Teaser Trailer 1 0:55 Added: August 24, 2018. Can they trust him? Now, you may wonder where the film was shot. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is tested as she does everything in her power to keep him safe. Nevertheless, the scene falls flat and feels preachy. Theres brilliant stuff here about recovery and how addiction destroys the fabric of a family. On the contrary, what is so moving and effective about Robertss work here is her shrewd subversion of her long-established persona. Clayton, according to Ben, is a dangerous person, and Ben is not ready to risk Dollys life when he meets Clayton. You could cast a unicorn in a movie with this woman and the only thing anyone would say is, Nice horse, but did you see JULIA ROBERTS? She turns the dimmer down here a little to give a performance thats a full emotional workout. Symmetry opens the film. Stuart Dryburgh of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty fame came on board as the director of photography. She agrees lets him stay for 24 hours only if he does not leave her sight. And then he reminds her, no, she didnt check everything. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "Ben Is Back" takes place in snowy, idyllic, small-town New York, and Ben comes from a family of comfort and means. One problem with Ben Is Back is that it cannot find the right tone. Furthermore, the crew filmed scenes in Larchmont, an affluent village situated along the Mamaroneck River. This time will be different. Now, with Ben is Back, director Peter Hedges has created something a little bit different: a half-and-half movie with plenty of standard-issue addiction drama courtesy of Julia Roberts as a suburban mum trying to keep her 19-year-old son off opioids at Christmas.But other scenes are directed with the pure . Look how his skin glows. Recent episodes in Anatomy of a. The filmmaker previously made the enjoyable and piquant holiday-themed comedy-drama, Pieces of April, about a dysfunctional family at Thanksgiving. Ben owes Clayton a great deal of money since he takes a wad of cash and Dollys expensive necklace to make it square. Ben and Holly talk and talk trying to gain understanding of the situation. - A woman puts prescription medications from a medicine cabinet in a bag and hides them in a closet, a young woman tells a young man that he was her dealer, many people using drugs stand around barrel fires and seem high, a young man delivers money to a drug dealer and returns to another dealer with drugs (the dealer tastes the drugs and gives the delivery person a packet of powder), and a young man says that he got a young woman hooked. A woman confronts a doctor about prescribing drugs to her son at the age of 14 and says that she hopes he dies a horrible death. As the winter darkness descends, mother and son enter an inferno of grieving parents, sexual predators, ruthless dealers and hollowed-out users. Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to stay up to date.US Release Date: December 7, 2018Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas HedgesDirected By: Peter Hedges Synopsis: Follows the charming yet troubled Ben Burns (Hedges), who returns home to his unsuspecting family one fateful Christmas Eve. Ben Is Back Pits a Dazzling Julia Roberts Against the Opioid Scourge Alan Scherstuhl December 18, 2018 9:00AM In Ben Is Back, Julia Roberts (left) stars as Holly Burns, an ordinary. Just as his performance in Boy Erased failed to convince he was struggling with his sexuality, Hedges never seems to be truly fighting addiction here. You can learn to parallel park there, you can make out with your high school boyfriend . for language throughout and some drug use. Lucas Hedges plays the titular Ben, a recovering heroin addict, and Julia Roberts is Ben's loving mom. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. After Bens return, the situation at home is tense, although Dolly especially has faith in Ben. Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges are pictured filming a Scene for 'Ben is Back' at a shopping mall in White Plains, New York 03.01.2018 Advertisement. Returning from Ivy, Liam, and Laceys performance at the Christmas choir, they find that the room has been broken in. Holly has two kids with her second husband ( Courtney B. Vance) in addition to Ben and his younger sister, Ivy ( Kathryn Newton ), from her first. Ben (Lucas Hedges) has no father and has turned to overdependence on prescription medication. Scott Dec. 5, 2018 When the title character shows up early in "Ben Is Back" just before Christmas, at his. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It is all calculated emotional button-pushing. A young man says that he got a young woman hooked and we understand that she is dead. "ben is back" is filled with harshly poignant scenes, e.g., when holly goes cold at the very sight of the doctor who prescribed heavy doses of painkillers for ben when her son was 14, or when holly has a harrowing encounter with a childhood friend of ben's who has been ravaged by addiction and cries out, "i changed your diapers," and wonders how Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is. Whereas it appears that a few shots were recorded outside the strip mall as well as the Haas Pharmacy at 62 Orange Turnpike. So begins a long night of the soul as mother and son drive around Bens old stomping grounds. And then he reminds her, no, she didnt check everything. Be aware that while we do our best to avoid spoilers it is impossible to disguise all details and some may reveal crucial plot elements. Alan Scherstuhl December 17, 2018 6:00AM In Ben Is Back, Julia Roberts (left) stars as Holly Burns, an ordinary woman struggling with the return of her teenage son (played by Lucas Hedges). His survivors guilt never feels as palpable as her mothers (Rachel Bay Jones) grief. Shes taken him Christmas shopping so hell have appropriate clothes to wear at church that night. - A young man is shown unconscious and his skin and lips are tinged blue; a woman gives him a drug trying to revive him and then does mouth-to-mouth and he starts breathing again. It is hard to believe anything Ben says when he arrives or opens his mouth. Not a burglar it turns out but Ben (played by the directors son Lucas Hedges), the familys oldest kid, who is back from rehab unexpectedly for the holidays. "Bennifer" is officially back! Issuu is a digital . Meanwhile, Holly goes to Maggie's mom for help, who gives her a med kit for reviving a person who has suffered an overdose and her car keys to go find Ben. Dolly seeks to accept Ben, but Ben has ways to mess things up. However, Ben returns to life at the movies end with a jolt. [11] The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018. Bens a charmer and a talkerhell burst into a silly song to amuse the little onesand its clear that hes trying strenuously, as well, to make his return a happy one. Ben tries to buy his dog back, but Clayton says Ben must do a drug run for him. The film begins like a home invasion thriller as a young guy attempts to break into a house. In fulfilling the assignment, Clayton offers Ben a pouch of the drug to reward Bens service in the smuggling operation. Dolly says that Ben is with her, but Ivy has installed trackers on the cell phones of the house. Furious, she takes him to the cemetery, asking him where he would like to be buried. Ben Is Back is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Peter Hedges, and starring Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Courtney B. Vance. A young man says, "You're still scared of me," to his family. Ben's mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Another place where the crew set up a shoot was a cemetery in Haverstraw, where a heated fight between Ben and Holly takes place. Hedges direction is efficient and understated in these scenes. Ben's wary mother Holly Burns (Roberts) welcomes her beloved son's return, but soon learns he is still very much in harm's way. Acclaimed director Peter Hedges (Dan In Real Life) reared the 2018 familial micro-drama movie Ben Is Back starring his son Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea). The journey of Ben and Dolly to find the family canine, Ponce, begins at the house of Mr. Richmond, the history teacher. The film eventually goes off in thriller-like direction with Ben and Holly searching for the family dog, which has been stolen by one of Bens former associates to whom he owes a debt. The conflict is not his alone. His mother Holly (Roberts) beams as only Julia Roberts can beam, full megawatt dazzle delighted to see him. Shes always worried. Although Dolly has an outburst following this incident, she does not find the fresh batch she is looking for. At Family Day, Queen Leah, Audrey's grandmother, believes Mal is Maleficent and causes a scene. Lopez, who turned 52 on Saturday, posted the steamy picture as part of a series of photos in which she donned a printed string bikini, marking her birthday. A woman tells another woman, "You can't help them. But what if she cant? Therefore, the chances are that the guy who read the note called Dolly to inform Ponces location. Her best moments have Holly making some questionable decisions, thoughher heart is in the right place. His stepfather, Neal (Courtney B. Vance), wonders how many more chances Ben deserves, noting that a young black man in his circumstances would not have had as many. The scale and depth of the horror are beyond anything she had imagined. Acclaimed director Peter Hedges ('Dan In Real Life') reared the 2018 familial micro-drama movie 'Ben Is Back' starring his son Lucas Hedges (' Manchester by the Sea '). The film suggests that drugs do not have to be illegal and sensational, like cocaine and LSD, but they are pretty mundane in a broken, contemporary world. they are pretty mundane in a broken, contemporary world. And she thinks shes covered all the tracks. Her expression is not one of disgust, or shame, or fear; she looks like shes shopping for an outfit and doesnt like what she sees. He exploited his wifes prescriptions to become a drug dealer, and Ben perhaps owes him some money. - About 31 F-words and its derivatives, 22 scatological terms (1 mild), 3 anatomical terms, 2 mild obscenities, name-calling (liar, phony, stupid, junkie, drug addict), exclamations (shut-up, freaking out), 4 religious profanities, 19 religious exclamations (e.g. The questions his behavior creates for the people who love him are equally excruciating. Now, with Ben is Back, director Peter Hedges has created something a little bit different: a half-and-half movie with plenty of standard-issue addiction drama courtesy of Julia Roberts as a suburban mum trying to keep her 19-year-old son off opioids at Christmas. Her anger at Ben dragging her (and her family) into his mess comes and goes. Ben is Back review - Julia Roberts can't save middling addiction drama Strong performances from the Oscar winner and Lucas Hedges enliven a patchy film about a mother dealing with the return of. 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