The way back – film review

Do you remember a couple of decades when Ben Affleck was poison? How can this guy not act, let alone be in a good movie, Poison?

in the The way backnot to be confused with 2010 The way back or 2013 The way back (or 2003s The way back or 2011 The way back), Affleck is delivering one of the best accomplishments of his career and one of the better accomplishments of 2020 as an alcoholic who finds new purpose when hired as a high school basketball coach. Marketed as a sports drama, The way back offers some decent basketball action, but it is very much a character study of a broken man trying or refusing to overcome tragedy and a failed marriage.

Affleck, whose own marriage fell apart due to drinking problems, goes out of his way to reward audiences with a raw, powerful twist that inspires sympathy even as it turns into destruction.

Unless you’re looking for a movie about an underdog sports team that beats the odds (the epic game that would serve as the climax game in most of these sports films is never shown on screen to bring that point home). The way back is a worthy undertaking.

Rating by Erik Samdahl, unless otherwise stated.