The Way Back
I love a good sports movie. For some reason sports movies tend to package an unlikely combination of emotions into a single bundle. You have the thrill of the game combined with the individuals in play. You care about the individuals’ stories in their personal lives but you also want them to win on the court or on the field as well.
The Way Back isn’t your typical sports movie. Basketball plays a role in it, but it isn’t the main focus. Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) was a high school basketball star. We find him far from his peak — an alcoholic who lives alone and works a construction job to make ends meet. He is separated from his wife Angie (Janina Gavankar) and it seems his drinking buddies are his only friends.
One day he is contacted by his old high school and asked to step in mid-season to coach the boys basketball team. He reluctantly accepts. You can see where this is headed. Basketball isn’t just a game for Jack, it becomes a way to get his life back on track. Of course there are numerous bumps along the way, including a twist I did not see coming, as well as falling back on alcohol when things start to go sideways.
This movie was a surprise for me. I am generally not a fan of Affleck but can admit that he was rather good here. He already has the dark and gloomy persona down, and he managed to make Jack likeable despite all of his inner demons and other more unsavory personality traits.
He was helped by a few other performances. The assistant coach of the basketball team, Dan (Al Madrigal), openly admits the team is terrible when Jack first arrives but he is committed to trying anything to make them better. Dan, who is a by the book type of guy, is a good foil for Jack’s constant cussing and hot temper. Even the players on the team provide fun moments. The star of the team, Brandon (Brandon Wilson), has his own battles off the court dealing with a father who does not support him playing basketball.
But this is Jack’s story and there are layers to his past that provide plenty of juicy moments revealing how he wound up alone and drinking too much. Admittedly, this movie might not have made such a big splash in a normal year. It’s a smaller movie that would have gotten overshadowed by the larger fare in a year with regular releases. Having said that, The Way Back is a movie you will want to check out. It has plenty of heart and despite the serious tone of the movie there are some funny moments that will make you grin. Plus, if you’re a fan of basketball you’ll relish the opportunity to watch a team come together to overcome all obstacles.
Basketball is just a game, but as The Way Back showcases, it can also help guide you through the worst parts of life and give you something to celebrate even if all else is lost.
Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You love basketball
2. You like comeback stories
3. You are in the mood for a gloomy story with a bit of hope sprinkled in
