A struggling alcoholic becomes the new coach of his alma mater's
basketball team and brings the team, and himself, to victory. DRAMA/SPORT
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The Way Back (2020)Directed by Gavin O'Connor
Written by Brad Ingelsby and Gavin O'Connor Starring Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, Brandon Wilson, Melvin Gregg, Charles Lott Jr. |
The Way Back gives Ben Affleck a chance to stretch his dramatic range in a way that he's never done before. He reaches into his recent addiction to bring out a performance of the ages. Director Gavin O'Connor returns with the same emotional fervor he brought to Warrior and The Accountant, providing a powerful film about redemption and hope that I really hope doesn't get lost in the movie shuffle. O'Connor has this remarkable ability to resurrect the emotion using tropes we've all seen before. We've all seen the alcoholic basketball coach movie, but we've never seen it done this well.
Affleck plays Jack Cunningham, a troubled alcoholic who is separated from his wife following the sudden death of their nine-year-old son. Jack is punishing himself with booze, and when he is offered the chance to coach the basketball team of the Catholic school he once attended, the very team he once led to victory as a player, he decides to take it. As the coach, Jack brings victory to this losing team and slowly starts to crawl his way down the path of redemption. It's one hell of a tearjerker, and while the story is fairly predictable, Affleck's performance never falters. I would argue that it may just be the performance of his career. The Way Back is a strong, passionate film that acted as a sort of film therapy for Affleck in his real life. You can feel his dedication in every scene. I can only hope he continues to bring this sort of commitment to future performances. These past few years have shown a powerful talent I never knew was there, both as an actor and a director. The Way Back is simply the latest in a line of unforgettable films starring the A-lister. |