Julia Roberts plays mom to drug addict son in a career defining role

From the uninhibited hooker of PRETTY WOMAN to a mother fighting to keep her son off drugs when he unexpectedly comes home on Christmas Eve, Julia Roberts has come a long way.

And buzz in Hollywood circles is that her powerhouse performance in Peter Hedges' BEN IS BACK could well bag her another coveted Oscar as Lucas Hedges and she play off each other to unveil a beautifully complex relationship which unfolds over the festive week.

There's emotional intensity here and the darkness of dependency as well and the light of a mother's love and subtle humour as the dysfunctional family grapples with the crisis of an addiction as it moves towards a new year and new beginnings.

Nineteen-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve. Ben's mom, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son's drug addiction. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love gets put to the test as Holly does everything in her power to keep Ben clean.

BEN IS BACK is written and directed by Peter Hedges. The film also stars Lucan Hedges, Courtney B. Vance and Kathryn Newton apart from Julia Roberts. BEN IS BACK will be released in India by PVR Pictures on Dec 7.