'The Way Back' A Review

The Way Back is a sports drama about former high school basketball star and current struggling alcoholic Jack(Ben Affleck) who is given an opportunity to coach his old team. Less a typical feel-good sports story and more a character study the film follows Jack as he invests in the team, makes attempts at sobriety, and grapples with familial and marital wreckage.

Perhaps an odd casting concurrence of art-imitating-life Affleck gives his best performance since his last collaboration with director Gavin O'Connor in 2016's The Accountant. He's able to authentically channel the reality, tedium, despair, and sheer devouring grind of alcoholism that few films about the disease get to or even attempt preferring to romanticize it or follow prescribed conventions(looking at you Star Is Born). But that is tempered by a clear compassion and resilience that balances the potential bleakness. And the character makes progress but, much like life, it's not linear. Another brilliant piece of casting is Al Madrigal as Dan the assistant coach/geometry teacher, primarily known for his comedic work he gives an incredibly vulnerable, subtle, and effortless performance balancing Affleck perfectly and bolstering up the reality of the film. The supporting cast are equally done, the team, Affleck's family and ex-wife, notably the always incredible Michaela Watkisn as his concerned sister. But the focus, justly, is on Affleck, this is more a film about alcoholism and grief not basketball which it's too it's credit.

Excellent percussive editing and hand-held visceral camera work create a transportive feel for this, ultimately personal emotional drama, the feelings of peril, the struggle, the progress are all conveyed not only by the script and performances but by the pitch perfect production elements.

The rare and surprising Hollywood film that gets alcoholism right and offers more hope than rubbernecking destruction.

See It.