Ben Is Back (2018)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 103 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Peter Hedges
Stars: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Kathryn Newton
IMDb score:
6,7 (25.469)
Releasedate: 5 December 2018
Ben Is Back plot
"One family. One day."
On the eve of Christmas, Ben Burns shows up unannounced at his mother and stepfather's house. His sponsor says his sponsor has approved Ben, who has been clean for two months after being admitted to rehab, to spend Christmas with his family. Mother Holly is delighted, but her husband and her oldest daughter remind her that a junkie cannot be trusted, especially since things have gone wrong in previous years too. After some doubt, Ben is allowed to spend one day at home, under strict supervision. But the lack of confidence makes it extremely difficult for Holly to get things right.
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Actors and actresses
Holly Burns
Ben Burns
Mr. Beeby
Ivy Burns
Spencer 'Spider' Webbs
Clayton
Beth Conyers
Cara K.
Leon B.
Officer Thomas
Reviews & comments
mrklm
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- 11629 messages
- 10041 votes
A horrific title for an intelligent, compelling, and well-made addiction drama that skillfully tells the story of the unexpected visit of addict Ben [Lucas Hedges], just a few months clean, to his family from two perspectives: Ben's own and that of his mother, Holly [Julia Roberts]. Both roles are beautifully written by director/screenwriter Peter Hedges. Holly is constantly torn between her maternal feelings and her rational understanding that she cannot (or barely can) trust her son. Ben struggles with the fact that he knows he cannot be trusted ("You can never trust a junkie," as he says!) and the consequence: his mother's reluctance to trust him. The beautiful performances by Robert and Hedges vividly capture the extent to which addiction permanently disrupts the relationship between parents and children, but also how difficult it is for an addict to regain control. Rachel Bay Jones impresses in her two scenes as a mother who, partly due to Ben's actions,lost her daughter to drugs. It's a shame, though, about the abrupt, unsatisfying ending.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Mescaline
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- 7095 messages
- 3260 votes
Ben is Back is definitely a film worth seeing. The acting is thankfully already at a high level, with names like Julia Roberts, but also the younger Lucas Hedges, so that's something you can actually expect.
For me personally, the biggest surprise was Kathryn Newton. She's not only a beautiful woman to look at, but she also delivers a very natural and genuine performance in this film. The characters feel realistic, and that only works in Ben is Back's favor.
The story itself is quite predictable and quite simple, but fortunately this is handled creatively and the night scenes are very atmospheric.
The ending, as mrklm previously pointed out, was rather abrupt. The fact that he started breathing again before the credits rolled was, of course, very predictable and almost safe to call.
Not a masterpiece in my opinion, but a drama film that is worth seeing and certainly not a waste of time.
3.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8442 votes
It was less convincing than "Beautiful Boy", which also focuses on the concerns of a parent/drug-addicted son, although Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges are quite good in their roles and it is of course always commendable to use film, as a warning finger, to highlight the pitfalls and abysses that such addiction causes.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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