The Way Back Review
Ben Affleck’s career that like anything has had its ebbs and flows. However it's very rare to see Affleck so vulnerable and effective in his acting as he displays throughout the 108 minutes of "The Way Back". This film directed by Gavin O'Connor (Warrior) follows Jack Cunningham (Affleck) who is a struggling alcoholic who has yet to come to terms with some past trauma and dealing with familial strains with his sister and estranged wife played by the beautiful Janina Gavankar (True Blood).
While initially expecting "The Way Back" to be another white savior film with a white man saving a group of mostly brown young boys playing a sport in a failing school, this ended up being a very raw character study that allows Affleck to showcase more of the anger he displayed in "Gone Girl" while reminding you that he's been in the game a LONG time and still has something to prove.
With a solid supporting cast, this film never feels formulaic or phoned in. Specific highlights include comedian Al Madrigal who plays assistant coach Dan struggling to hold Jack accountable with his drinking but afraid of ruining the winning streak that has positively impacted the team and Brandon Wilson who plays star player Brandon who struggles with school/basketball/life balance. However that doesn't mean that everything is clear...there's a random character named Doc played by the great Glynn Turman who repeatedly helps a hammered Jack get home from the bar he goes to every day after working construction who doesn’t really add any additional context or story. Additionally, the fall out in the third act feels rushed instead of following the slow burn pace of the rest of the film and while it honestly handles Jack's downfall, it leaves some of the other characters behind and leaves the audience wanting a bit more closure.
Despite some of these issues, Affleck soars in his performance in this film which is currently available on HBO Max. Will he get any awards love over the next few months? Doubt it because the competition is so fierce but nonetheless this performance is a great reminder that Affleck is an incredible talent behind and in front of the camera. His performance elevates what was expected to be a generic sports redemption story.
Rating: Large
Brandon Collins