Ben Is Back (2018)

[Darth Marcus]

Source: Deadline

Julia Roberts Drama ‘Ben Is Back’ Acquired By LD Entertainment, Lionsgate & Roadside
by Dino-Ray Ramos - July 9, 2018 10:00am

LD Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Roadside Attractions have partnered for the U.S. distribution of Ben Is Back starring Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges.

The acquisition was announced by Mickey Liddell of LD Entertainment, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions Jason Constantine, and Roadside Attractions co-founders Howard Cohen & Eric d’Arbeloff. The film is set for a December 7 release date.

The drama was written by Oscar-nominated Peter Hedges (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Pieces of April) and follows 19-year-old Ben Burns (Hedges) who unexpectedly returns home to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben’s mother, Holly (Roberts), is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. 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. The film also stars Courtney B. Vance and Kathryn Newton.

Black Bear Pictures & Color Force produced the film with 30WEST and Black Bear fully financing the project. The film was produced by Hedges along with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Teddy Schwarzman. Executive Producers are Daniel Steinman, Micah Green, Dan Friedkin, Ben Stillman, Michael Heimler, Jane Evans, Mickey Liddell, and Pete Shilaimon. CAA handled US sales while Sierra/Affinity is handling foreign sales.

[Foggy]

When you finally get your own standalone movie releases at Christmas, but it winds up being someone else’s:

[Himmel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfnjoRzhq7c

[Elgie]

I thought this was about Affleck.

[Foggy]

Teaser was really well done, looks like Lucas Hedges is going to be competiting against himself three times over this season though.

[wowbobwow32]

Lucas Hedges is popping up everywhere and that's a good thing. Kid is super talented!

[badfingerboogie]

Damn, thought this was going to be a sequel to the killer rat movie...

[spanky87]

Julia is Back, and she's coming for her 5th oscar nomination.

[Cremildo]

The film was just shown in Toronto and there is Oscar buzz for Julia Roberts on Twitter already.

[Britnasty]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXM1...ature=youtu.be

Looks heartbreaking.

[LegacyCosts]

The acting in the trailer is certainly captivating. 2018 a decent year for soul crushing drug dramas.

[MikeScott]

They should honestly just go into 600-1,000 theaters for Christmas. It has good reviews, takes place over Christmas, and it's not going to get any Oscar love so there's no point in waiting for that. Unfortunately nothing from the Golden Globes either.

[SleazyForWeasley]

Originally Posted by MikeScott

They should honestly just go into 600-1,000 theaters for Christmas. It has good reviews, takes place over Christmas, and it's not going to get any Oscar love so there's no point in waiting for that. Unfortunately nothing from the Golden Globes either.

It's opening in the greater Cleveland area this weekend. In 1 theater. Ridiculous.

[SleazyForWeasley]

Saw it last night. I thought this was much more powerful and far more engaging than the reviewer did. I also thought it was a far better, and much more concise film than Beautiful Boy which felt overly repetitive and far more showy... as if to say "We'll use this bit for your Oscar campaign. We'll use this bit for your talk show appearances."

[yellowjacket1]

Julia Roberts really really needs to retire.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by yellowjacket1

Julia Roberts really really needs to retire.

Is there a double standard at work here? Clint Eastwood is 88 and still starring in Hollywood productions.

[jacobsever]

On the surface, Ben is Back is a simple story about one family struggling with one member's addiction. The scale is small, featuring a limited cast and a very short period of time. We see the Burns family on Christmas Eve, happy and returning home from a Christmas play rehearsal at the local church. However, they see their son/brother standing alone in the driveway. Ben shouldn't be there, he's currently enrolled in rehab, living in a sober home.

The movie only takes place within about a 24 hour time frame. From the morning of Christmas Eve, and ends in the very wee hours of Christmas morning. It has a small array of characters, but for the most part features Lucas Hedges as Ben, and Julia Roberts as Holly. It's a story about how difficult it is not only for Ben to stay clean, but for his family and loved ones. How hard it is for his parents to trust him. It's honestly, a very heartbreaking movie.

But, digging a little deeper (not too deep though, the movie isn't very subtle about it), the overall message of the film is about the opioid crisis in America as a whole. About how fast and loose doctors play when prescribing harmful and addictive painkillers to patiences, as pushed by big pharma. About how smaller towns and communities become entirely consumed by the drug trade. How lives across the board are ruined.

This movie is cold, bleak, and lives in this desaturated blue landscape. There are no "feel good" moments to be had here. The movie starts off on a somewhat of a downer, and continuously gets worse as it goes on. It's heartbreaking, devastating, and powerful. By the end of the film, I was balling in my chair and walked out of the theater feeling empty and gutted. Which, is a good indicator that I really enjoyed a movie.

Performances here are top notch. Seriously. This movie got a weird release, playing in less than 200 theaters, came out very late in the year when big budget comic book movies and franchise films are saturating the theater. Both Roberts and Hedges deserve acting nominations for this film, but it's likely this film will be completely looked over by the Academy.

I had a feeling, based on the trailer, that I'd enjoy this film. But I was completely taken aback by how powerful it actually ended up being, and how strongly I reacted to it. One of the year's best.

5/5
Top 10 material

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by yellowjacket1

Julia Roberts really really needs to retire.

How? Her performance in this film is the best female performance I've seen in 2018. Even though she won't get it, she absolutely deserves an Oscar nom for this role. She's also completely stunning at the age of 51.

I need some more Roberts in my life.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

How? Her performance in this film is the best female performance I've seen in 2018. Even though she won't get it, she absolutely deserves an Oscar nom for this role. She's also completely stunning at the age of 51.

I need some more Roberts in my life.

Also Homecoming is getting some fantastic reviews! She doing pretty well!

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Also Homecoming is getting some fantastic reviews! She doing pretty well!

I still need to watch the rest of that. Watched the first episode and kinda stopped.

Although, it's very strange seeing her in that role. I listened to the podcast way before it was announced of becoming a show, and it's just impossible to not hear/picture Catherine Keener.