“Ben Is Back” (Drama: 1 hour, 43 minutes)

Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Courtney B. Vance

Director: Peter Hedges

Rated: R (Profanity and drug use)

 

Movie Review: “Ben Is Back” is the fourth film for director-writer Peter Hedges. He wrote the novel and screenplay for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993) and directed “Pieces of April” (2003). 

In “Ben is Back,” he aptly directs his son, Lucas Hedges, who excellently plays the title character Ben Burns. Playing opposite Lucas, Julia Roberts compellingly plays his mother, Holly Burns. The two create unique characters that lead audiences on a riveting adventure through rough urban areas in nearly one day.

Ben Burns is a recovering addict. He returns home during the Christmas holiday, a short break from a rehabilitation clinic. Upon arriving home, Ben quickly finds all of the elements that got him in trouble – illegal drugs. Holly Burns is determined not to let a drug addiction kill her son. She spends time securing Ben and the rest of their family’s safety.

Similar to “Beautiful Boy” (Director Felix Van Groeningen, 2018), “Ben Is Back” is about a mother trying to save her save her son. It is a gratifying drama mainly due to the fine performances of Roberts and Lucas Hedges.

The movie is a serious one, and Hedges and Roberts play roles astutely. They portray their characters with a certain sense of urgency. Hedges also acts in “Boy Erased” (2018) and he earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in “Manchester by the Sea” (2016). He is a talented young actor. He is impressive here, also.

Roberts plays his mother. She is tough and nurturing, handling both majestically. This role fits her, providing a very hardcore drama role. Together, she and Lucas Hedges provide nice scenes.

“Ben Is Back’s” greatest fault is it gives one little time to get to know its characters. It jumps right into the plot full speed. One is forced to get to know the onscreen personas via their echoing actions.

Although it provides little time to understand character actions, the movie’s narrative provides energetic and passionate scenes. It is a moving drama about a mother’s love for her troubled son and her perseverance to save him.

Grade: B (Ben’s return is a good drama.)

“The Upside” (Drama/Comedy: 2 hours, 6 minutes)

Starring: Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman

Director: Neil Burger

Rated: PG-13 (Suggestive content and drug use)

 

Movie Review: The upside takes real-life material and makes it unconvincing occasionally. However, it remains enjoyable. This is the type of feel-good movie that inspires, and most people should see it as a temporary escape. 

Dell Scott (Hart) is an African-American on parole. He is trying to find a job and is attempting to reconnect with his estranged wife and son. Phillip Lacasse (Cranston) is a disabled Caucasian-American billionaire. He desperately wants to die. 

Lacasse hires Scott to help him in his daily routine. Their relationship becomes a friendship, where Scott gives Lacasse a reason to live and Lacasse provides Scott employment. 

A genuine friendship is the focus of this movie based on a true story. A shame the movie is not the fine drama it could be. Instead, it plays on stereotypes. Here, Hart plays his typical self, and Cranston plays the formulaic wealthy man.

From this prescribed material a solid story of camaraderie evolves that is entertaining and inspiring. When the movie takes a more dramatic turn, Hart, Cranston and Kidman become more involving. One begins to care more about these people as they begin to care more about each other each. This is where “The Upside” becomes good entertainment.

Grade: B- (The upside: it is a feel-good movie.)

“A Dog’s Way Home” (Family/Adventure: 1 hour, 36 minutes)

Starring: Jonah Hauer-King, Bryce Dallas Howard

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Rated: PG (Thematic elements, scenes of peril and strong language)

 

Movie Review: Adventure is at the core of this pleasing family movie. 

It follows the travels of Bella (voiced by Howard), a dog, to get home to her owner, Lucas (Hauer-King). Bella travels approximately 400 miles. While walking her way home, she encounters numerous people such as a homeless veteran, an orphaned mountain lion and other canines. Bella brings a little joy with each stop.

Writer W. Bruce Cameron’s book serves as the basis of this canine adventure. His books have become magnets for dog lovers. Earlier, he co-wrote the screenplay “A Dog’s Purpose” (Director Lasse Hallström, 2017), which was based on his 2010 book. 

Cameron writes “A Dog’s Way Home” with cowriter Cathryn Michon in a similar manner.

Charles Martin Smith (“Dolphin Tale,” 2011) directs the movie using similar themes, but it remains endearing enough to impressively please most audiences. It involves a family reunion with their beloved pet. It effortlessly gets a sympathetic pass.

Grade: B- (A good venture heads in a good direction.)

“On the Basis of Sex” (Biogragphy/Drama: 2 hours)

Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux

Director: Mimi Leder

Rated: PG-13 (Profanity and suggestive content)

 

Movie Review: A slice of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life is the basis of this feature. The movie adds to the nostalgia that has made Ginsburg a celebrity. 

She is a formable person who has championed anti-discrimination policies and women’s right. The movie is engaging, but “RBG,” a 2018 documentary, was good because moviegoers got Ginsburg’s story directly from her in a captivating manner.

“On the Basis of Sex” stars Felicity Jones as Ginsburg. She is a law professor and attorney. She is also a wife to Marty Ginsburg (Hammer) and mother of two children. 

Along the way from college student to being a lawyer, she battles sexism continuously. One of her biggest battles is an equal-rights case involving United States government taxation and gender discrimination.

The biographical drama is good but light. It needs focus. The movie could have been Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s time as one of the first women law students at Harvard or the court case Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld. Instead, this script tries to capture moments of her life during those moments and in between.

That aside, the movie is intriguingly entertaining. Ginsburg’s life is as interesting as she is. 

Director Mimi Leder (“Pay It Forward,” 2000) and her team make this an enjoyable slice of Ginsburg’s life.

The cast is good. Jones and Armie Hammer are a good coupling. They make the Ginsburgs a love affair. Justin Theroux is energetic, flamboyant leader of the American Civil Liberties Union. A seasoned Kathy Bates as Dorothy Kenyon invigorates scenes with some of the better moments. Bates plays her character brazenly. 

As fun as this movie is, it feels like fanfare to a beloved Justice Ginsburg. A romantic gesture that pleases while only skimming the surface of the impressive judicial presence Ginsburg has become.

Grade: B- (An interesting but borderline approach to gender equality.)

“Replicas” (Science-Fiction: 1 hour, 48 minutes)

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alice Eve and Thomas Middleditch

Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Rated: PG-13 (Thematic material, violence, disturbing images, nudity and sexual references)

 

Movie Review: “Replicas” is a movie style no one should ever clone. It is a poorly written and poorly executed. 

As likable as Keanu Reeves may be, he is not enough to improve this terrible screenplay.

Will Foster is a synthetic biologist who tries a daring experiment to bring back his wife and three children after a car accident kills them. 

In the obsession to get his family back, Foster commits numerous ethical violations. He maneuvers complex subterfuge measures to keep others from discovering his family’s tragedy. 

The science-fiction part of the movie is intriguing. Accolades for this movie cease there.

The manner this photoplay is scripted is subpar material. The story is messy from start to finish. 

As one of the worst narratives to debut this new year, others can only get better in comparison.

Grade: D- (Producers should never replicate this poorly developed movie.)

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives in Valdosta.