“Honey Boy” Film Review: Finding Peace in Pain

Honey Boy (2019) was directed by Alma Har’el and written by Shia LaBeouf, who also co-stars in the film. LaBeouf wrote the autobiographical script as part of a rehabilitation program, and portrays his own abusive father in the film. Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges also star as Shia (here named “Otis”) at different points in his upbringing. Does the film stand on its own merit, or is it merely a nice cathartic story for the beleaguered LaBeouf?

“Waves” Film Review: Love, Openness, and Forgiveness

Waves (2019) is the third feature film from writer-director Trey Edward Shults. It stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown, and Lucas Hedges in the story of a family undergoing numerous personal crises. It looked for a moment to be this year’s breakout film of the festival circuit, only to be overlooked and all but forgotten as we get deeper into awards season. Are critics and pundits right to forget about this film, or is it a hidden gem still waiting to be discovered by Academy voters and audiences alike?

**Major spoilers ahead!**

“Boy Erased” Film Review & Analysis

Boy Erased stars Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons, a pastor’s son who is interred at a gay conversion therapy camp (based on a true story). Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman co-star as Jared’s religious parents, as does Joel Edgerton (who also wrote and directed the film) as the eccentric head of the conversion therapy camp. With such a stellar cast and explosive subject matter, the film is sure to attract Oscar buzz. Does it live up to expectations?

“Mid90s” Film Review & Analysis

Mid90s is the directorial debut of Jonah Hill, starring Sunny Suljic as a young teen who begins to hang out with a group of older skateboarders in 1990’s Los Angeles. Lucas Hedges and Katherine Waterston co-star as his older brother and mother, respectively. It’s a coming-of-age tale full of adventure, intrigue, and of course nostalgia. How does Hill’s first foray behind the camera pan out? *SPOILERS AHEAD!*