Her son tries to start it but is unsuccessful. The scale and depth of the horror are beyond anything she had imagined. By the time Ben and Holly are locked in a pieta-style tableau, with light shining from behind and above them, Ben Is Back has truly hit bottom. (Particularly so soon after another film about a privileged young addict Beautiful Boy.) Ben introduced Maggie to the drug, which seems to cause some amount of guilt in Bens mind. human shock collars for sale vampire movies 1940s movie themed team names. Ben has something hes not saying. Regardless, Hedges plants all kinds of details that are meant to pay off later but fail to deliver any real impact. However, later, Dolly reaches Ivy to find Bens location. All rights reserved. Technically, the film is a two-hander. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. But from Spencer, Ben gets a lead about the home invasion incident. While holiday shopping at the mall, Holly runs into Ben's former doctor, now an old man with dementia. 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. Ivy, however, is rightly suspicious of this prodigal son, and says Holly is trying too hard. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. And then she checks him because she has concerns. Shes taken him Christmas shopping so hell have appropriate clothes to wear at church that night. It is hard to believe anything Ben says when he arrives or opens his mouth. Ben is in recovery from heroin addiction. Looks like shes gonna have you try on the whole store. I love what both actors are bringing to this scene. Release date: Dec 07, 2018. Holly sees Ben standing on the porch on her way back from the church with children Liam, Lacey, and Ivy. In fulfilling the assignment, Clayton offers Ben a pouch of the drug to reward Bens service in the smuggling operation. Ben has been in rehab for quite a few months, struggling with an Oxycotin addiction. The movie takes place over one day and a long night, so there's more discussed about Ben's history of drug use than actually seen. 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. Sequels! In Wicked World, the two are shown to flirt, with Mal often complimenting on how cute Ben is and being impressed when he . Theres this dangerous something coursing through him. Its not as interesting narratively or as relatable emotionally. They start in very different places from where they end up. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. He has been to rehab a few times, and his return brings more menace than peace for the family of Dolly Burns (Julia Roberts), her second husband, Neal Beeby, and the family. - 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. All Ben Is Back Videos. Whereas it appears that a few shots were recorded outside the strip mall as well as the Haas Pharmacy at 62 Orange Turnpike. 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). Ben completes the mission and gets Ponce back, but Clayton also gives him some drugs in return. When Ben heads out on foot to locate Ponce, Dolly thinks it is good to go with Ben. He has a secret. Pockets. This is humiliating. No, this is love. Hollys oblivious. Free to go. You didnt check my shoes. Then Holly becomes concerned. As the winter darkness descends, mother and son enter an inferno of grieving parents, sexual predators, ruthless dealers and hollowed-out users. Although Dolly has an outburst following this incident, she does not find the fresh batch she is looking for. And hes with his mother Holly, played by Julia Roberts. His relationship with Julia Roberts as his mother, Holly, provides the film with its vivid heart. 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. In contrast, an episode where Holly vomits after piecing together what Ben did to get his history teachers Oxycontin is a bit much. 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. - 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. Helmed by Peter Hedges, the 2018 drama Ben Is Back is a refreshing and nuanced addiction movie about drugs and how they affect society. Upon the arrival she is first shocked and then overjoyed to see her. Ben (Lucas Hedges) has no father and has turned to overdependence on prescription medication. As Bens stepdad puts it: if he was black hed be in prison. In addition, the team toured Mamaroneck, lensing a few enticing sequences on location. Other Sellers on Amazon. Ive been with you the whole time. Excuse me! The girl at the meeting. And Ben going from cocky and confident to reduced and regressing in age and fearful and apologetic You think Im an idiot. All right. 'Ben Is Back' | Anatomy of a Scene By Mekado Murphy December 7, 2018 Peter Hedges narrates a scene from his film featuring Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts. How does any addict? Become a member of our premium site for just $2/month & access advance reviews, without any ads, not a single one, ever. She seems like a woman accustomed to getting her way, not because she is complacent or overly entitled but because she expects the world to recognize the moral authority of motherhood. Vance, as the skeptical stepdad, takes a thinly-written role and makes it meatier. A woman walks alone in a dark alley and finds her son's phone in a garbage dumpster. Ben is Back or is he? And hes with his mother Holly, played by Julia Roberts. 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. Dolly says that Ben is with her, but Ivy has installed trackers on the cell phones of the house. The crew filmed some scenes in Sloatsburg, a village in the town of Ramapo in Rockland County. While eating at a diner, Ben tells Holly that he got a local girl, Maggie, hooked on drugs and is responsible for her death. The suspense is generated by a deceptively simple question, one that haunts most stories of addiction: Will Ben use again? Add to Cart . The journey of Ben and Dolly to find the family canine, Ponce, begins at the house of Mr. Richmond, the history teacher. New & Used (35) from $3.78 + $3.99 shipping. Add a gift receipt for easy returns. Dolly seeks to accept Ben, but Ben has ways to mess things up. "[13] At Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 39 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Ben and Mal is a romantic pairing, Ben is the son of Belle and Beast, and Mal is the daughter of Maleficent and Hades.. Ben Is Back has been added to your Cart . Ben has something hes not saying. There is a didactic scene of Holly talking frankly to the doctor who got her son hooked on drugs, as if to excuse parental responsibility. They end up at the home of Maggies father Bens ex-girlfriend, who died from a presumed drug overdose. The film highlights many shades of Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges central roles, Holly and Ben. The next scene they're at a gas station with no explanation as to how they got the broken down vehicle there. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Writer-director Peter Hedges depicts this phenomenon with intimacy and empathy in Ben Is Back, about a teenage opioid addict who leaves rehab for 24 hourssupposedly with the encouragement of his sponsorto visit his family on Christmas Eve. But the performances remain uniformly strong and hold the story together, even as it threatens to spin out of control. Her best moments have Holly making some questionable decisions, thoughher heart is in the right place. Her tics and her smile are overly familiar, but her performance does work when she is being empathetic. The cast and crew spent a significant amount of time in the Hudson Valley region. A young man talks about having an arrangement with his history teacher for drugs (possible sexual activity is implied). ben is back mall scene "Bennifer" is officially back! She may be too deep in her own suffering, and the film may be too absorbed in her feelings, to grasp that fully. Meanwhile, Ben has relapsed into drugs, and Dolly has to decide whether to part with Ben. At Family Day, Queen Leah, Audrey's grandmother, believes Mal is Maleficent and causes a scene. You can learn to parallel park there, you can make out with your high school boyfriend . If you feel like encountering Bens outcome, let us give it a try. Hollywood films about addiction tend to be tasteful, well-meaning awardsy dramas. All rights reserved. The film begins when 19-year-old Ben Burns reappears in his house in Yonkers, New York, just in time for Christmas. Ben is Back. The plot follows a mother who tries to help her addict son after he returns home from rehab. He wisely lets his actors act, giving them space to indicate so much in just a meaningful look. Nevertheless, the scene falls flat and feels preachy. A young man says, "The last time I didn't help someone, they died." His survivors guilt never feels as palpable as her mothers (Rachel Bay Jones) grief. 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. Lucas as Ben has this rich inner life at the beginning of the scene. Menu. Peter Hedges, whose previous features as a director are Pieces of April, Dan in Real Life and The Odd Life of Timothy Green, keeps his sentimental tendencies on ice here. This movie chronicles 24 hours in the life of a family after the oldest son comes home from rehab one Christmas eve. Ben has been in rehab since he nearly died after becoming hooked on painkillers resulting from a sports injury, a habit that eventually led to him selling drugs to young people in the neighborhood, incidents that neither Ben, the drug dealers, or the victim's and their families will ever forget. Back to the Future (1985) Universal Pictures. The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Hedges and Roberts, but grossed just $12 million against its $13 million budget. Ben sees his childhood friend, Spencer, also a drug addict. 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. Im Peter Hedges, writer and director of Ben Is Back. Ben Burns, played by Lucas Hedges, comes home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve Day. In this all new movie we find Morticia . Inicio La Provincia ben is back mall scene ben is back mall scene. He blames himself for someone attempting to hurt his family. After Bens return, the situation at home is tense, although Dolly especially has faith in Ben. Filming also went underway in Garnerville, which was formerly known as Calicotown. [Peter and Lucas Hedges never meant to make a movie together.]. Can you please just exit the store? Yes. The range where they both go in the scene, the number of places they go, is emblematic of all the places we go in the film.. Putin's forces in November pulled out of key positions, retreating from Kherson as Ukrainian troops led a counteroffensive targeting . Follow him on Twitter. Ben is in recovery from heroin addiction. Looks like shes gonna have you try on the whole store. I love what both actors are bringing to this scene. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed and a mother's undying love . Some filming also took place in New City, a hamlet in the Clarkstown municipality. Driving out to an abandoned barn, he parks on the side of the road. However, Neal and Ivy think differently Neal, since he has paid for Bens rehab sessions, and Ivy, since as Bens biological sister, Ivy has seen Ben since childhood. Will he be dead on the floor with a needle sticking out of his arm? A young man says that his mother found him upside down on the stairs with a needle in his arm and that his dog was trying to keep him awake. 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. Let us get to the ending. Holly follows Ponce to the barn where she finds Ben unconscious, having taken the drugs from Clayton. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from the Big Issue and our partners. Ben Is Back shifts into gear once mom and son leave the house for a trip to the mall. The rest of Ben Is Back, written and directed by Peter Hedges (father of Lucas), sustains and intensifies that clammy, anxious feeling. Spencer shows up and, after a tussle, he confirms that Clayton, a drug dealer he used to work for, took Ponce. View Cart . What Hedges wants to do here is make you feel the dread and nausea of a parent living with a teenage addict the prickle of fear walking into his bedroom. he locks himself in a mall fitting room. Know when new reviews are published We will never sell or share your email address with anybody and you can unsubscribe at any time, We will never sell or share your email address with anybody and you can unsubscribe at any time, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. And Ben has a secret. 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. Newton is quite good, too, as the familys voice of reason. 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. 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. His mother Holly (Roberts) beams as only Julia Roberts can beam, full megawatt dazzle delighted to see him. But once again, Roberts gives a gripping performance as a mother coming to new realizations about the child she thought she finally understood. 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). The plot follows a mother who tries to help her addict son after he returns home from rehab. It opens with Holly (Julia Roberts) coming home from church with three of her four children who have been practicing for the Christmas pageant. Holly follows in her car, finding Ben in a nearby neighborhood. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Buy Tickets to Ben Is Back: https://www.fandango.com/ben-is-back-213738/movie-overview?cmp=CSYT_YouTube_DescWant to be notified of all the latest clips and behind the scenes footage? She knows that Ben is in another town, but Dolly lies that they split up to cover more ground. A young man and his mother argue in several scenes; the young man shoves his mother during one argument trying to get her to leave him. Surprises? Im Peter Hedges, writer and director of Ben Is Back. Ben Burns, played by Lucas Hedges, comes home unexpectedly on Christmas Eve Day. Let us now take you to the specific locations where the movie was lensed. Ben (Lucas Hedges) has no father and has turned to overdependence on prescription medication. While maintaining the unity of action and time, the movie also features a lot of outdoor locations. She has made sacrifices, worked hard, raised good kids and as a result has earned a certain amount of deference. She wants to have a good feeling about her sons return. And then he reminds her, no, she didnt check everything. Therefore, the chances are that the guy who read the note called Dolly to inform Ponces location. The MPAA rating has been assigned for language throughout and some drug use. The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a physical altercation that ends with a punch in the face, references to sex in exchange for drugs, opioid addiction and its effects on family and loved ones, discussions of the death of people addicted to opioids and rehab, and over 30 F-words. "Ben Is Back" takes place in snowy, idyllic, small-town New York, and Ben comes from a family of comfort and means. But this is one of those rare Hollywood movies that keeps you guessing, where you dont see the ending coming 20 minutes in. And you will be helping support our website & our efforts. And then theres Julia Roberts. After a few minutes, Ben takes a breath. Ben plays noisily with his half-siblings but too noisily an edge of anxious . Ben Is Back was filmed in the state of New York, particularly in Rockland County and Westchester County. When a young man doesn't remember a young woman, she tells him, "You were my dealer." A young man talks about waking up with erections now that he is not using drugs. 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. Lucas Hedges plays the titular Ben, a recovering heroin addict, and Julia Roberts is Ben's loving mom. Theyve just come from a 12-step meeting. His sister and stepfather are, however, deeply. A young man tells another young man, "I thought you were dead." Ben Is Back is really Hollys story, and notwithstanding the all-around excellence of the cast, its very much Robertss movie. The disease of addiction can afflict anyone, anywhere, Hedges reminds us, just as Beautiful Boy did earlier this year. When the title character shows up early in Ben Is Back just before Christmas, at his familys big house in a suburban town north of New York City the mood tilts from domestic drama toward domestic horror. While Beths suspicion conditions the audience, Dolly gives saving Ben one last shot. Recent episodes in Anatomy of a. [8] Filming began on December 5, with Courtney B. Vance joining the cast as Ben's stepfather. (Mark Schafer/Courtesy of LD Ent./Roadside Attraction), ------------------------------------------. A young man is agitated when he goes into his attic and says that he used to hide his drug stash there. If the thought has indeed crossed your mind, allow us to enlighten you. A young man chases another young man out of a diner, he shoves him against a wall and into a pile of garbage bags and the young man on the ground gets up and punches the other young man in the face and then runs away. Ben soon makes eye contact with a man who is presumably linked to his drug-dealing. 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. [14], Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards, "Making of 'Ben Is Back': How Director Peter Hedges Convinced His Reluctant Son Lucas to Star", "Julia Roberts And Lucas Hedges Team For Black Bear & 30WEST-Backed 'Ben Is Back', "Courtney B. Vance Joins Julia Roberts & Lucas Hedges In 'Ben Is Back', Julia Roberts project, filmed in Rockland, gets positive reviews, "Julia Roberts Drama 'Ben Is Back' Acquired By LD Entertainment, Lionsgate & Roadside", "Toronto: Timothee Chalamet Starrer 'Beautiful Boy,' Dan Fogelman's 'Life Itself' Among Festival Lineup", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Is_Back&oldid=1132753122, Best Performance by an Actor 23 and Under, David Zaldivar as Spencer "Spider" Webbs, a drug addict and one of Ben's old friends, Jack Davidson as Dr. Crane, husband of Alzheimer female, Mia Fowler as Lacey Burns-Beeby, Holly and Neal's 10-year-old daughter and Ben and Ivy's little half-sister, Jakari Fraser as Liam Burns-Beeby, Holly and Neal's 6-year-old son and Ben and Ivy's little half-brother, This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 11:23.