Peter Hedges (About a Boy, Pieces of April, What's Eating Gilbert Grape) both wrote and directed this excellent film and in doing so alerts us to the rising problems with the opioid pandemic that continues to grow in both our youth and adult population. The problem is exceptionally disturbing: the film captures that, and in doing so offers some of the finest writing and acting of the past year.
The plot follows the charming yet troubled Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), who returns home to his unsuspecting family one fateful Christmas Eve. Ben's wary mother Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) welcomes her beloved son's return, but soon learns he is still very much in harm's way. During the 24 hours that may change their lives forever, Holly must do everything in her power to avoid the family's downfall. The family is biracial, a strong addition to the impact of the film, with Courtney B. Vance as Ben's stepfather Neal - Ben and Ivy (Kathryn Newton) are by Holly's first marriage while Lacey (Mia Fowler) and Liam (Jakari Fraser) are the product of her marriage to Neal. The cast also includes excellent cameos by David Zaldivar, Rachel Bay Jones, Alexandra Park and others.
The impact of the film is extraordinary: Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (whose father is Peter Hedges!) bring credibility to the roles of the mother son relationship, including the hope and perseverance of belief that allows us to understand the mindset of drug addiction better than any film to this date. Why these two exceptional performances were overlooked at Oscar time begs explanation.
BEN IS BACK solidifies the importance of Lucas Hedges as an actor of immense stature. This is one of last year's finest motion pictures, with a very important insight to a major problem. Highly Recommended.
The plot follows the charming yet troubled Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), who returns home to his unsuspecting family one fateful Christmas Eve. Ben's wary mother Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) welcomes her beloved son's return, but soon learns he is still very much in harm's way. During the 24 hours that may change their lives forever, Holly must do everything in her power to avoid the family's downfall. The family is biracial, a strong addition to the impact of the film, with Courtney B. Vance as Ben's stepfather Neal - Ben and Ivy (Kathryn Newton) are by Holly's first marriage while Lacey (Mia Fowler) and Liam (Jakari Fraser) are the product of her marriage to Neal. The cast also includes excellent cameos by David Zaldivar, Rachel Bay Jones, Alexandra Park and others.
The impact of the film is extraordinary: Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges (whose father is Peter Hedges!) bring credibility to the roles of the mother son relationship, including the hope and perseverance of belief that allows us to understand the mindset of drug addiction better than any film to this date. Why these two exceptional performances were overlooked at Oscar time begs explanation.
BEN IS BACK solidifies the importance of Lucas Hedges as an actor of immense stature. This is one of last year's finest motion pictures, with a very important insight to a major problem. Highly Recommended.