![]() ![]() I kept waiting for more insights with the characters, but the story kept falling back on "dead child" as the explanation for everything. I feel like I just watched a by-the-numbers sports drama attached to a by-the-numbers addiction drama. The problem is that it never feels like it goes deep enough in any aspect. The acting is pretty good, the docu-drama style gives it a credible sense of realism, and the movie doesn't downplay the destructive pull of addiction. There's nothing inherently bad in director Gavin O'Connor's drama. His alma mater needs a new coach and the former high school basketball star might have found a job that could lead him to be a better version of himself. We follow Jack (Affleck) as he tries to get his life back on track following the death of a child and the end of his marriage. Not to be confused with 2013's The Way Way Back, or 2010's The Way Back about Gulag survivors, this movie entitled The Way Back is about Ben Affleck as an alcoholic basketball coach, and it's thoroughly fine. Even though it probably won't be an easy watch for some, I absolutely recommend it. Even though the movie felt familiar as a whole which will keep me from giving it a perfect score, I thought it was very well-directed by Gavin O'Connor and Ben Affleck sucked me in from start to finish. I'll just say, even though there are elements of happiness and hope, this is a very sad film about someone trying to find themselves after being lost for so long. As I said, it may hit too close to home for some, but I would ruin a few moments in the movie if I got into them. Overall, The Way Back is one of the better movies that I've seen so far in 2020, even though there isn't much to watch at the moment. ![]() That's fine because the point of the movie definitely isn't the team, but for the amount of screentime they get, there could've been a little more detail to their characters. There was one great character on the team, but the rest felt like stereotypical teenagers that were there so that the focus wouldn't be taken off Ben Affleck. What I did feel could've used a little more depth was within the team itself. If for nothing else, it's incredibly effective in terms of emotion. Now, I didn't think The Way Back was perfect, because by the time it reaches its second and third acts, you kind of know what to expect, but there are elements of how everything plays out that kept it from being too predictable. The best performances come from the heart, and this film absolutely showcased that. His sincerity and pain on his face throughout the entire duration of the film hit me really hard. If the Oscars were being held today, I wouldn't have any hesitation giving the best actor award to Affleck. Much like Lady Gaga in A Star is Born, your best performances come from something you can relate to. Ben Affleck, who went through a divorce and had alcohol issues in real-life, portrays Jack, and I believe it's one of his best performances, maybe ever. It can be slightly melodramatic at times, but those aspects are still very well-done and may even be a little much for someone if they are able to relate.Ī movie like this truly needs a powerful central performance or it simply won't work. Of course, with movies like this, it's not all sunshine and rainbows and his past comes back to haunt him, which reveals much more about this character's past. ![]() Having been a player himself, he knows the ins and outs of the game, which will, in turn, make him a great mentor, albeit strict. The Way Back deserves to be seen in my opinion.Īfter separating from his wife and turning to alcohol in a life-threatening way, Jack Cunningham is given a chance to prove himself and clean up his act when he's offered the opportunity to coach a high school basketball team. This film may hit too close to home for some, so I will recommend this movie with a large asterisk of caution, but here's why I think it's a great film nonetheless. ![]() The Way Back is the latest addiction drama to hit the big screen but is now immediately available for purchase at home. These days, everything has been done in terms of recovery stories, but that can be said about every genre I guess. When it comes to dramas about someone recovering from a personal event or issue, it really comes down to how well it's made. ![]()
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