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Rhenzy Feliz has come into the national spotlight thanks to his fantastic co-starring performance in The Penguin, but the actor has been a part of plenty of notable TV shows and movies before 2024, putting in impressive acting showcases each time he appears. Born on October 26, 1997, Feliz was just 26 when he appeared in The Penguin premiere. That wasn't even close to Feliz's first acting job though, and the Brooklyn, NY native got his start back in 2016, with a recurring role on the Hulu comedy series, Casual, in season 2.

Work never let up for Feliz, and aside from a few years in the early 2020s, the Covid-19 years, as they were, he's been constantly performing in either TV or movies. His innocence and charm makes for a good mix that allows him to inhabit sweet, kind characters, who are also stronger than they may appear at first glance. The Penguin is how most wider audiences know him,...

Stars: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton, Rachel Bay Jones, David Zaldivar, Alexandra Park, Michael Esper, Tim Guinee, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Kristin Griffith, Jack Davidson, Mia Fowler, Jakari Fraser, Cameron Roberts | Written and Directed by Peter Hedges

Ben is Back, directed by Peter Hedges, faces strong competition in this year’s “Armageddon vs Deep Impact” cinematic war/rivalry against Felix van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy. Two incredibly alike films that follow a parent and drug-addicted son relationship in the emotionally tormenting journey that both travel on. Peter Hedges film stands firmly on its own ground with a semi-captivating drama that hits with a suffocating gut punch of emotionally draining brutality but gets lost on the path it travels with excessively dramatic plot elements that are executed more in the realm of the absurd than captivating.

The unnecessary plot elements, while not destructive to the films overall narrative or resonance of emotional depth,...

Today we are recognizing Ben Is Back, as well as writer/director Peter Hedges, plus co-stars Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts. Our Hollywood Film Tributes recognize films and talent for their excellence in the art of filmmaking. One of the most powerful films of 2018, Ben Is Back is a masterclass in actors bringing out emotion in the audience. Hedges and Roberts combine for some very special work. At the same time, the elder Hedges crafts a beautiful showcase for his son. It’s one of 2018’s best and most underrated movies, that’s for sure… A sampling from our rave review last month: There’s a special little alchemy on display in Ben Is Back, a wonderful new film hitting theaters this week. You see, in the director’s chair is filmmaker Peter Hedges, while in one of the central two roles is his son, Lucas Hedges. Each has done strong work in the past,...

Following a couple of somewhat lighter weeks in the Specialty space, this weekend is really ramped up with star-lead limited release awards contenders vying for box office recognition. Focus Features rolls out Mary Queen of Scots, starring Oscar nominees Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie as the 15th century rival monarchs of Scotland and England, respectively. The title opens three weeks after The Favourite, another big screen look at a female British monarch (and members of her rivalrous court) from centuries past. That film had the year’s best per theater average opener at $105K in November. Ld Entertainment/Roadside Attractions/Lionsgate are rolling out Peter Hedges’ Ben Is Back starring his son Lucas Hedges as well as Oscar-winner Julia Roberts as a mother who confronts her son’s addiction.

Natalie Portman stars as a pop sensation who rose to stardom from tragedy in Brady Corbet’s Vox Lux, opening in select locations via Neon.

There’s a special little alchemy on display in Ben Is Back, a wonderful new film hitting theaters this week. You see, in the director’s chair is filmmaker Peter Hedges, while in one of the central two roles is his son, Lucas Hedges. Each has done strong work in the past, but here they bring out the best in each other. When I haven’t even mentioned the commanding turn by Julia Roberts, you know this is good stuff. Together, the three of them make this among 2018’s finest works. It will contend for a spot on my year end top ten list. The movie is a family drama about a teenage drug addict home for the holidays. It’s Christmas Eve and Holly Burns (Roberts) is wrangling her two young children, while older daughter Ivy (Kathryn Newton) performs in a church choir show. When they return home, they...