When Lucas Hedges was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2017 for his turn as a beleaguered son in “Manchester by the Sea,” it seemed like it might have been something of a one-off nod. While he showed flashes of brilliance in his performance, it was difficult to tell whether or not he’d be able to replicate his success in subsequent roles. However, with turns in two of last year’s Best Picture nominees, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “Lady Bird”, as well as upcoming roles in “Honey Boy” (in which he plays Shia Labeouf opposite, well, Shia Labeouf), “Boy Erased,” and “Ben Is Back,” Hedges’ initial promise appears to have been founded and worthy of the nomination.
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The latter film, in which he stars opposite Julia Roberts, playing his mother, doubles down on the family drama that has defined his roles thus far, telling the story of a young man who returns home to his family claiming to be clean from drugs. Roberts, whose last two film roles included “Wonder” and “Smurfs: The Lost Village,” seems to be headed back for more dramatic fare, with ‘Ben Is Back’ and “Homecoming,” the Amazon series based on the popular podcast, on her 2018 slate. Interestingly enough, the film’s director, Peter Hedges (“Dan In Real Life,” “The Odd Life of Timothy Green”) is Lucas’ father, which could prove to be a fruitful partnership.
With proclamations of the awards recognition of its stars and filmmaker, its content, Toronto premiere, and a December release date, ‘Ben Is Back’ appears to be angling for Oscar recognition. The film opens just two months after “Beautiful Boy,” starring Hedges’ ‘Lady Bird’ co-star Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell, which tells a similar story of a family dealing with addiction and figures to be Amazon Studios’ primary Oscar contender next year. The aforementioned ‘Boy Erased,” the second of two high-profile films this year about gay conversion therapy this year (after Sundance winner “The Miseducation of Cameron Post”), could be an awards contender, giving Hedges two good chances at a nod come February.
‘Ben Is Back’ debuts in theaters on December 7. You can watch the trailer below: