Ben takes note that there are no burglars, but at the same time, Ponce is missing. Let us get to the ending. Back to the Future (1985) Universal Pictures. SPOILERS AHEAD. Later at night, with little luck finding Ponce, Dolly and Ben try to reach a moment of clarity at a diner. Ben Is Back takes place in snowy, idyllic, small-town New York, and Ben comes from a family of comfort and means. In Wicked World, the two are shown to flirt, with Mal often complimenting on how cute Ben is and being impressed when he . The conflict is not his alone. The hamlet in the town of Haverstraw features in several scenes, a highlighted location being Sparkys Diner. After the emergency kit does not produce results, Dolly even traverses taboo championing reasons boundaries, giving Ben CPR. The film highlights many shades of Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges central roles, Holly and Ben. But even more so, it's also a movie about redemption that reflects Jesus' lesson in the Book of Luke through a powerful illustration of forgiveness. Become a member of our premium site for just $2/month & access advance reviews, without any ads, not a single one, ever. [9] Filming took place in Yonkers, New City, Sloatsburg, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Garnerville, and Haverstraw, New York. Ben and Mal is a romantic pairing, Ben is the son of Belle and Beast, and Mal is the daughter of Maleficent and Hades.. Shortly after Neal and Holly argue over Ben's arrival, there's a scene focusing on Ben's interaction with his young siblings. But shes not paying full attention. What they dont say to each other is as important as what they do say. We see a photo of a woman wearing a camisole that reveals cleavage. New & Used (35) from $3.78 + $3.99 shipping. And then he reminds her, no, she didnt check everything. And then watching how she can, on a dime, flip from the happy mom to panicked mom and fierce mom Where did you get this? 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. He uses the same outline here: theres a screw-up title character (Lucas Hedges, the directors son) with a suffering/domineering mother named Holly (Julia Roberts), an insufferably perfect sister named Ivy (Katherine Newton) as well as a benign-ish father (Courtney B. Vance) all hoping Ben doesnt spoil everything as he always does. Happy to see him but Holly is also wary, as she does not want his instability to affect the other children. Leaving Holly stranded at a gas station, he goes to meet Clayton. Driving out to an abandoned barn, he parks on the side of the road. Bens much younger half-siblings (Mia Fowler and Jakari Fraser) and the family dog, for their part, adore him unreservedly. Julia Roberts films Ben Is Back in sub-zero weather https://t.co/kmKOaHd0oB #Yonkers pic.twitter.com/LPHHL3bZh3, YonkersRU (@YonkersRoundup) January 8, 2018. While holiday shopping at the mall, Holly runs into Ben's former doctor, now an old man with dementia. His disease is acting through him, as if he were possessed by a demon that is also his double. An important filming location is Harriman State Park. Mom is too blinded by her love of her son to notice how bad he is. 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. As for whether there are sparks between Rodriguez and Shookus, a representative for the baseball star told Page Six "there is absolutely zero there," adding: "They've been friends for 15 years." It sure feels like it. Does Ben relapse? (3,433) 6.7 1 h 43 min 2018 X-Ray HDR UHD R. Julia Roberts delivers a riveting performance as a mother swept into a race against time after her troubled 19-year-old son (Lucas Hedges) returns home for Christmasand suddenly disappears. But other scenes are directed with the pure suspense of a thriller. Meanwhile, ever the mom in control, Holly tries to convince herself its all going to be fine, even repeating 12-step slogans like It works if you work it.. Her anger at Ben dragging her (and her family) into his mess comes and goes. Lucas as Ben has this rich inner life at the beginning of the scene. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here. Ben Burns: I love five people and Ponce is two of them. While the director meant to keep the finale subtle, we conclude that Ben is alive. All rights reserved. Theres brilliant stuff here about recovery and how addiction destroys the fabric of a family. He leaves Ponce in the car with a note asking whoever finds it to call his mom. 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. The best thing that can be said about this film is that Hedges isnt going for warm and fuzzy feelings. Added . The Fabelmans, Babylon, Empire of Light: Why the spate of love letters to cinema? 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 . A measure of privilege is baked into this assumption, and Ben Is Back is partly about the way the current scourge of opioid and heroin addiction has contributed to the demoralization of the American middle class. View Cart . How can he live with what hes done? Furious, she takes him to the cemetery, asking him where he would like to be buried. Ben Is Back was filmed in the state of New York, particularly in Rockland County and Westchester County. Hollywood films about addiction tend to be tasteful, well-meaning awardsy dramas. They search for Ponce together to no avail. It is hard to believe anything Ben says when he arrives or opens his mouth. If you think what we do is worthwhile, please donate or become a member, Why is Ben Is Back rated R? The storyline revolves around Ben Burns, an athlete dealing with opioid addiction. If anyone can solve Bens problems can bring Ben back to the sweet, smart, decent boy he used to be its surely his mom. Ben concocts that he took the drug from the girl at the meeting, but he later comes clean that he found the bit in the attic room. Im Peter Hedges, writer and director of Ben Is Back. Ben Burns, played by Lucas Hedges, comes home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve Day. - 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. The next scene they're at a gas station with no explanation as to how they got the broken down vehicle there. However, Ben returns to life at the movies end with a jolt. While there, she receives a call from a man who found Ponce, driving out to retrieve him. A man says of his step-son, "If he were black he would be in jail by now." As the winter darkness descends, mother and son enter an inferno of grieving parents, sexual predators, ruthless dealers and hollowed-out users. Clayton, a local gang leader for whom Ben worked, sent men to break into the Burns residence. A young man smokes from a vaping device in a few scenes (outside and in a car). Following Claytons order, Ben agrees to do the job, sticking several belts of drugs onto his body. 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. All Ben Is Back Videos. The cast and crew spent a significant amount of time in the Hudson Valley region. Ben Is Back also traverses the same territory as the recent, better drama, Beautiful Boy, about a young mans addiction and the impact it had on his father and family. Disturbing video footage captured two boys fighting at a New Jersey mall on February 13 Bridgewater police arrived, and while one cop pulled the light-skinned boy away, the other tackled the. 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. All at their highest rate in 40 years. As per sources, a few scenes were even lensed at a property on Johnsontown Road, simply known as The Farm. The crew filmed in North Little Tor Road and along the South Mountain Roads in the suburbs of New City. Clayton is not convinced by what Ben has to offer, and Ben has to do another job for Clayton if he wants to take Ponce back. "One of the 50 Coolest Websitesthey simply tell it like it is" - TIME, The current economic climate has reduced our revenues. And Ben has a secret. Menu. A young man seems nervous when he sees another young man in a shopping mall. The maternal side of Holly tells Ivy and Ben that he may stay for Christmas before going back to rehab, but-. He tells Holly he needs to go to a support group meeting, where he later shares the story of how he almost overdosed, but was saved by his mom and the family dog, Ponce. Perhaps most notably, the new episodes show Wendy becoming increasingly reckless in her actionsspeaking publicly and repeatedly about her "missing" brother Ben ( Tom Pelphrey ), even though she. Although Dolly has an outburst following this incident, she does not find the fresh batch she is looking for. We welcome suggestions & criticisms -- and we will accept compliments too. Ben soon makes eye contact with a man who is presumably linked to his drug-dealing. tipsy bartender emma break up; asl sign for coast guard Subscribe to learn more about the movies you love! And it works, mostly. Since Mr. Richmonds wife had cancer, he could get all the prescription drugs. Hedges film is stronger in its first half, when its an understated character drama, than in its second half, when it morphs into a contrived crime thriller. This is especially true regarding a subplot about a young woman who died as a result of Ben getting her hooked on drugs. But she think she is. Dec 21, 2018. The rest of Ben Is Back, written and directed by Peter Hedges (father of Lucas), sustains and intensifies that clammy, anxious feeling. How does any addict? The spacious house is bustling with excitement and preparations for the kids performances at Christmas Eve mass. Lucas Hedges, like Timothe Chalamet in Beautiful Boy, the seasons other alliteratively titled tale of a young man fighting a drug habit, deftly captures the nuances of this condition. A woman walks alone in a dark alley and finds her son's phone in a garbage dumpster. Ben Is Back NYT Critic's Pick Directed by Peter Hedges Drama R 1h 43m By A.O. I n its early scenes, Ben Is Back is more unpredictable and slyly entertaining than its earnest-sounding premise might suggest. But Julia Roberts puts everyone in the shade, even Hedges one of my favourite young actors (he played Casey Afflecks nephew in Manchester By the Sea). Shes going to get clothes for him. But the performances remain uniformly strong and hold the story together, even as it threatens to spin out of control. Additional filming went underway at the Super Seven convenience store, located at 75 Orange Turnpike in Sloatsburg. Rated R Unlike the MPAA we do not assign one inscrutable rating based on age but 3 objective ratings for SEX/NUDITY, VIOLENCE/GORE & LANGUAGE on a scale of 0 to 10, from lowest to highest depending on quantity & context |more|, Print a page, share with friends, and yes, please go ahead and email links. Bens intense dynamic with his mother, Holly Burns, and the subsequent effect of his addiction on the family form the core of the drama. Surprises? Holly unleashes all her anger at this sick old man, who clearly has dementia an unflinching scene that feels real and raw in its emotional incorrectness. Her son tries to start it but is unsuccessful. She scolds him for getting her son hooked on painkillers after a snowboarding accident when Ben was younger. If the thought has indeed crossed your mind, allow us to enlighten you. This time will be different. When Ben heads out on foot to locate Ponce, Dolly thinks it is good to go with Ben. Ben has something hes not saying. The hometown is mundane and suburban, but the camera looks for an exit from nature, reinforcing the fostering image. Ben Is Back SUBSTANCE USE - 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 . In the nocturnal adventure, Ben visits the places of guilt to find a resolution for the present discontent. "Ben Is Back" takes place in snowy, idyllic, small-town New York, and Ben comes from a family of comfort and means. [11] The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018. for language throughout and some drug use. When a young man doesn't remember a young woman, she tells him, "You were my dealer." People and institutions doctors, police officers and pharmacists, as well as her kids are supposed to listen, and to accede to her wishes. Clayton, according to Ben, is a dangerous person, and Ben is not ready to risk Dollys life when he meets Clayton. Reports suggested that a few sequences in the film may have been lensed along Beach Avenue and Linden Avenue as well. However, with some help from Ben (he leaves Dollys phone number in the note outside the car), Dolly finds the vehicle parked by a house. It is almost laughable to watch Julia Roberts wandering around a site full of addicts on a dark winter night searching for her child. That evening, the family returns home from church to find that someone has broken into their home and taken Ponce. Its here that the film starts leaking suspense. His mother Holly (Roberts) beams as only Julia Roberts can beam, full megawatt dazzle delighted to see him. A woman speaks to her son sternly and gives him rules for remaining home for 24 hours before returning to a rehab facility. Just go to our search page or use the search bar, with or without a keyword, from the top navigation menu. But even a scene set the safe space of a 12-step meeting, where Ben cracks jokes and tries to earn sympathy,comes off as disingenuous. We welcome suggestions & criticisms -- and we accept compliments too. The journey of Ben and Dolly to find the family canine, Ponce, begins at the house of Mr. Richmond, the history teacher. Technically, the film is a two-hander. by Marc on January 17, 2019 in Connect. Review: 'Ben Is Back' Takes A Wrong Turn Along The Way The first half is a tense, painfully real family drama about the lingering toll of opioid addiction; the second half lurches into thriller . So begins a long night of the soul as mother and son drive around Bens old stomping grounds. US Release Date: December 7, 2018 Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges Directed By: Peter Hedges Synopsis: Follows the charming yet troubled Ben Burns (Hedges), who returns home to his. Even after the menacing, hooded figure skulking around near the driveway is recognized as a son and brother (played by Lucas Hedges), the queasy feeling of terror doesnt quite abate. I thought you were dead, one guy at the mall says off-handedly. 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. Theyve just come from a 12-step meeting. Located at 129 Ramapo Road, the affordable diner attracts local crowds through its sheer cooking prowess and an uncomplicated menu. Shes always worried. 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. 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. Shes going to get clothes for him. Superheroes! Other Sellers on Amazon. Ben is Back: Teaser Trailer 1 0:55 Added: August 24, 2018. He is entirely credible as an almost-grown man whose credibility has virtually collapsed, who is in a constant state of war with himself. Symmetry opens the film. 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. Ben was written and directed by Peter Hedges and it's clear it was crafted for his son, who stars as the titular troubled young man. He blames himself for someone attempting to hurt his family. 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. Regardless, Hedges plants all kinds of details that are meant to pay off later but fail to deliver any real impact. However, any commercial reproduction of anything appearing within this site is both illegal and in really bad taste and we will take action |more|. 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. Shes taken him Christmas shopping so hell have appropriate clothes to wear at church that night. As Bens stepdad puts it: if he was black hed be in prison. SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. (Mark Schafer/Courtesy of LD Ent./Roadside Attraction), ------------------------------------------. Ben is jumpy, shaky, perhaps not ready for this yet. (But were still going to focus on the sad rich, straight, young white guys.). They are the main couple of the film series.They first meet each other at the beginning of Descendants and they later started dating and became a couple. How much more damage will he do, to them and to himself? She wants to support and protect her beloved oldest child without endangering or alienating the rest of the family, and in spite of everything that has happened she still has unwavering faith in her own maternal powers. The young actor seems to have cornered the market on playing troubled youth, but it is hard to care about his character because Hedges has no range. Our ratings and reviews are based on the theatrically-released versions of films; on video there are often Unrated, Special, Director's Cut or Extended versions, (usually accurately labelled but sometimes mislabeled) released that contain additional content, which we did not review. Dolly says that Ben is with her, but Ivy has installed trackers on the cell phones of the house. new video loaded: Ben Is Back | Anatomy of a Scene, Hi. And thats especially clear when he runs into people from his past. human shock collars for sale vampire movies 1940s movie themed team names. A young man tells another young man, "I thought you were dead." Filming also went underway in Garnerville, which was formerly known as Calicotown. Scott Dec. 5, 2018 When the title character shows up early in "Ben Is Back" just before Christmas, at his. Dolly heads to a store to change the kit since it has expired, but they do not deal with such medications. 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). We are a totally independent website with no connections to political, religious or other groups & we neither solicit nor choose advertisers. And Ben has a secret. | profanity glossary |. Melissa McCarthy Says 'Bridesmaids' Originally Had a Strip . Image Credit: Mark Schafer/BBP West BIB, LLC, Ben Burns, an athlete dealing with opioid addiction. Film directors walk viewers through one scene of their movies, showing the magic, motives and the mistakes from behind the camera. While Beths suspicion conditions the audience, Dolly gives saving Ben one last shot. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is. 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