Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben's mother, Holly, 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.
Ben Is Back is anchored by a powerhouse performance from Julia Roberts, who delivers one of her most raw and committed turns as a mother desperately trying to hold her addicted son together. Lucas Hedges is equally strong as the troubled Ben, making their dynamic the film's beating heart. The plot is competent and emotionally resonant but follows a fairly well-worn addiction-drama trajectory — the 24-hour structure adds some urgency but the story beats feel familiar. Cinematography is functional and suitably intimate without being visually distinctive. Novelty is low; the film covers ground well-trodden by films like Beautiful Boy (released the same year), and while it's earnest and well-crafted, it doesn't offer a fresh angle on addiction narratives. The ending strikes an appropriately ambiguous, hopeful-but-uncertain note that suits the subject matter without feeling cheap.