Boy Erased

Does Lucas Hedges ever sleep? The guy has been in a ridiculous amount of movies over the last few years. I’m not complaining because he’s usually amazing, but damn. He once again steals the show in Boy Erased with another memorable performance as Jared Eamons. Boy Erased is the latest project from director Joel Edgerton and is adapted from the memoir of the same name written by Garrard Conley. It’s based off Garrard’s experience at a gay conversion camp after he came out to his very religious parents. There are wonderful performances from Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. The two veteran actors portray Jared’s parents as they struggle with the news that their son “thinks about men.” Cue gasps of horror. He gets sent to a gay conversion camp and then the real drama starts. I found this one to be a little slow moving but all three of the main actors give great performances. Hedges perfectly captures a young man who is struggling to accept himself and to navigate his family’s (and his own) beliefs. Kidman steals scenes as his mother and she’s been racking up nominations for this role. There’s nothing stellar or different about the stylistic choices Edgerton makes, but it’s a solid film with an important message.

Film or Movie: Film

You’ll like this film if:
1. You are LGBTQ friendly
2. You like slow moving plots
3. You are interested in coming out stories