In Waves, from director Trey Edward Shults, a suburban African-American family faces struggle, then tragedy. Healing is surely needed, but in what power will they find it? Ronald (Sterling K. Brown) is a demanding and domineering father. He describes himself as “the wise and noble father”. It is said lightheartedly, but we know it is… [Read More]
Ben Is Back: Broken Honesty on a Bruised Holiday
Ben is Back tells the story of Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), a nineteen-year-old drug addict who unexpectedly returns to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve. From the moment she first sees him, Ben’s mom, Holly (Julia Roberts), welcomes him openly yet remains cautious of her son’s drug addiction. Over a turbulent twenty-four hours, new… [Read More]
Boy Erased: Shame On Me
Based on the memoir of Garrard Conley, and written and directed by Joel Edgerton, Boy Erased is based on a true story that shows us the struggle of coming out, particularly in a religious home, and the dangers of conversion therapy. Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges) was the son of a pastor and grew up in a… [Read More]
Manchester By the Sea – Moving through Grief and Pain
In some ways this is a slice-of-life story of a family in grief. It is a disconcerting experience that triggers emotions in strange ways.
