The Way Back

There are films that are based on true stories and there are films that come across as practically semi-autobiographical, so it can appear as those are based on a true story. Such as the case with "The Way Back" whereas it contains a different plot, however it comes across as 'life imitates art' or maybe 'art imitates life' as with the case of Ben Affleck.



Back in high school, Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched his ticket to college or even the pros, but, instead, through alcohol due to a traumatic event in his life, he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future. Jack's glory days are long gone...but, as it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to take back his life when he is asked to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself, and as the boys, including Brandon Durrett (Brandon Wilson), Kenny Dawes (Will Ropp), Sam Garcia (Fernando Luis Vega), Chubbs Hendricks (Charles Lott Jr.), Marcus Parrish (Melvin Gregg) and Bobby Freeze (Ben Irving), start to come together as a team and win, he may get his last shot at redemption. 

Others to round out the cast are Al Madrigal as Dan, the assistant coach, Janina Gavankar as Angela Cunninham, Jack's separated wife, Michaela Watkins as Beth, Jack's sister, Jeremy Radin as Father Mark Whelan, John Aylward as Father Edward Devine, Da'Vinchi as Devon Childress, Matthew Glave as Coach Lombardo and Nico David as Ryan.

This was effectively directed by Gavin O'Connor ("Comfortably Dumb" '95, "Tumbleweeds" '99, "Murphy's Dozen" (TV movie) '01, "Miracle" '04, "Pride and Glory" '08, "Warrior" '11, "Cinnamon Girl" (TV movie) '13, "Only Human" (TV movie) '14, "The Prince" (TV movie) '15, "Jane Got a Gun" '15, "The Accountant" '16) plus TV and a short. By his very resume, O'Connor is certainly in his comfort zone with this film. He is able to bring out the pathos and raw feelings from his actors in his films, this one being of no exception. He seems to have a great rapport with Affleck since he has worked with him before in "The Accountant", an incredibly a well directed film. If you like his brand of directing, his "Fast" and "Atlantic Wall" are both in pre-production. It was also written by O'Connor (see list of directed films) plus shorts and TV, and Brad Ingelsby ("The Dynamiter" '11, "Out of the Furnace" '13, "Run All Night" '15, "American Woman" '18, "The Friend" '19) plus TV and a short. Between these two writers' experience, it is easy to see how effective this screenplay was implemented to give its audience that one, two punch. The story came across so realistically in that Jack had so many trials in his life, it would be easy to believe how an individual could end up as he did. I could definitely respect the ending as it went toward the bittersweet side--life isn't always tied up with a nice bow. And this has to be one of Affleck's better performances--I could feel his pain. Not sure, but maybe because what he has been going through in his own personal life probably helped him. Other than a couple of very small areas of lack of conciseness, this story was spot on. 

This is a film that any avid moviegoer should see just for the performance by Affleck. As I've mentioned prior, you'll be able to feel his pain of all he went through is his past and what he must endure in the present. This all comes cascading down around him, and he must pick up the pieces if he is going to survive. 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                         Rated: R                                             108mins.