Though it’s a slow movie, I thought it was well acted and the storyline was good.
If they wanted to make a film about sports or sports comebacks, there are certainly better films. If they wanted to make a film about alcoholism, there are certainly better films. Even if they wanted to combine alcoholism and sports there are certainly better films., So why did they make this film? There's nothing really wrong with it, apart from the obvious cliches they were compelled to put in there. But what does it add? In fact, most of the time it's depressing so there really isn't much entertainment value here.
A solid sports/redemption movie with Affleck in possibly the best performance of his life, that falls short because the titular "way back" part of the story for Affleck's character is over abruptly and way too neatly in the last five minutes of the movie.
I wish the movie had devoted the majority of its non-basketball screentime to this.
So a foul-mouthed alcoholic coach (thats all the coaches i played under) and a hopeless high-school basketball team mesh and manage to drag the story out for an hour and 20 minutes, add some cancer-kid emosh, an unfair dismissal (I mean, come on, how can a Priest tell a guy alcohol in the workplace is wrong, wine in churches and all that) leading to a moment of existential clarity, and just as you think the film is going somewhere, the end credits roll. Do yourself a favour and watch "Field of Dreams" or "Mighty Ducks" or the weather channel instead of this turgid mess, alternatively, start watching from about 1 hour 25, and see the only part of the film worth seeing.
8/10
Great movie, Affleck his performance was sublime. The movie had some deep “never give up” & “we have to move forward in life” parts.
If you were wondering If they won the final game. it isn’t important. They won as individuals and as a team. Even coach who wasn’t even there anymore.
The epitome of telling instead of showing. Boring AF and doesn't do anything new or interesting with the well-worn path it's treading.
A super solid Ben Affleck drama about alcoholism, that happens to unfold around basketball. While not the most remarkable or memorable movie ever, it is damn solid. I’d even go as far as saying this movie didn’t receive all the attention it deserved at its release. I will certainly watch this one again, and I assume I will watch it again sooner rather than later. If you like basketball movies, or Ben Affleck as an actor, watch this movie…you won’t be disappointed!
Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend
I gave it a good rating. Yeah, it’s a cliche, but I love stories like this. It’s slow, typical script and flow and predictable, but it’s a great story.
A good, solid, sports drama. Exactly what you’d expect from a redemptive story of a broken coach and a no hope team. Ben Affleck gives a good performance and I think we can tell it was a bit of a passion project for him. (There is one little treat for MACLEOD’S DAUGHTERS fans - Rachael Carpani/Jodi shares 3 minutes of screen time with Ben.) I give this film a 7 (good) out of 10. [Sports Drama]
Finding the Way Back, originally called The Way Back but changed probably to stop confusion with several films called The Way Back or the excellent The Way Way Back (it certainly has no similarities with that film) is a reasonably entertaining film but I cannot say it is enjoyable or made to be. You are not going to get many laughs in a film that superficially deals with a losing basketball team but is mainly about addiction and unrelenting grief and guilt. Heavy stuff and overall handled reasonably well although crammed conveniently into the running time.
Affleck gives a good turn as the heavy-set drunk even more poignant due to the fact he apparently had just come out of rehab again from his own problems with alcohol so you have to say at some level this was a brave move by him, and he must have known exactly how his character felt and behaved, so who am I criticise the veracity of any of the alcohol-infused set pieces?
As a sports film there is nothing particularly bad about it but there is also nothing original. The team does seem to go from hopeless losers to unbeatable behemoth rather too quickly and we get all the usual characters in the line-up, well played by the young actors, but they are all present and correct and apart from Brandon the quiet one, they are just sketches in the story of ‘Jack’. Al Madrigal turns in a subtle display as the mathematics teacher assistant coach and along with the team Chaplin, Father Whelan it would have been good to have a look into the effect Jack’s life had on them and how they behaved but this was very much surface skim for these characters.
There is no doubt that Finding the Way Back definitely tugs on your emotional strings maybe a bit too spot-on for my liking, but it does it well and skillfully. You are never asked to like Jack and never asked to forgive him for his destructive addiction, but you are asked to understand why he is a mere shell of the man he used to be.
Although the sporting cliches, including the dramatic last game finale play out with nothing new added the film does try to subvert the usual sugary endings and you are left with nothing particularly tied up in neat bows at the end.
All in all, Finding the Way Back is a perfectly good piece of cinematic entertainment, it is nothing new, and breaks no emotional tear-jerker rules but also what it does do it does competently well and better than many in the same lane as it. Affleck is a fine ruined man, he looks the part, only smiles and laughs when he is drunk and likes to chug when he is having a shower. Having known many high-functioning drunks in my life I can say the look is accurate including what was known around where I lived as ‘Wayne Douglas Jeans’ wherein the crutch of the jeans hangs around down by the wearers knees no matter how the jeans are actually worn, somehow being tidy and scruffy at the same time. The supporting cast do good work but is given little to nothing to do with the two main female roles Janina Gavankar (ex-wife) and Michaela Watkins (sister) acquitting themselves well in roles that offer nothing groundbreaking or different.
The director, writer and main actor have tried to make a story that gives us an insight to the desperate world of self-destructive addiction, life-crushing tragedy and redemption and in the main have succeeded it is just that as a sports-themed film and redemption show it offers little that is new, just some grittiness and showcasing that Affleck on his day is a top actor.
Recommended if you like these types of films, with no laughs, and not if you had your fill of them. The choice, as they say, is yours.
"I spent a lot of time hurting myself. I made a lot of bad decisions. I have my regrets."
Ben Affleck shows us that he is really a great, emotional actor. This is one of his best performances (if not the best). There are moments that are hard to watch, but in a way where you want to know what happens next.
This movie was definitely better than expected! Affleck gave a memorable performance and could dig into his own fears and insecurities to play the character at his best!
A film about alcoholism disguised as sports story. The message of overcoming that a coach transmits that cannot even overcome their trauma. It is a classic style melodrama, which allows us to see a more carnal, more real Ben Affleck. The star without makeup. The actor facing his own reality. Although some script shortcuts are too easy, the story works as a whole.
I was going to skip this movie because it's about basketball and I hate basketball. To be honest, basketball is only a small part of this movie - it's really about someone taking an emotional spiral downward and how/if he can pull out of it. Not your usual expected ending with regards to the basketball aspect - and that's what makes this movie work. Solid acting all around and Ben Affleck continues to virtually guarantee a good movie. 8.5/10
Ben Affleck was a great actor in it. Really absorbed me, not often lately I can get stuck to the screen.
Helps that I like basketball too, it was just a really well done movie, lots of highs an lows, and feel good moments, without following the exact formula.
A bit slow like most Affleck movies but a good story.
It's a rather sombre affair, but this tale of redemption gives Affleck the chance to give one of the best acting performances in his career.
I want to start by saying this was a good movie, and wow Affleck has found his home. This roll was perfect for you and you did it very good. This can be one of the best performances you done.
And I struggle my self with addiction, and I have my selfg gone through my worst years in my life and im not out on the other side yet.
Anyway this movie really made me feel alot, and recopnise myself in much.
Good work, Affleck you nailed it!
Review/Recap
The Way Back (2020)
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham
This sports-drama really hit the feels the way Coach Carter did to me back when I first watched it. Although the “basketball” part of the film sometimes takes a back sit for the drama context to be portrayed. No problem with the film at all, but it certainly could’ve utilized the basketball parts in correlation with the story.
Jack Cunningham is a construction worker, and at the start of the film it already shows he’s drowned with his alcoholism but gives some mystery of his troubles. Soon, he gets an offer to take a coaching job with his High School Alma mater. But he’s hesitant to take it due to he has a lot on his plate. After finding out that he’s separated from his wife. I thought the reason why is mainly because of alcoholism. I thought since then it would be predictable plot-wise. But, later on the film it was revealed that his son had passed. So, it clearly took a very big toll on Him.
But, then I asked myself… why did he quit basketball after High School? Then the story shows us a parallel with one of his players, Brandon Durrett (played by: Brandon Wilson) who is arguably the most talented player of the current line-up of Bishop Hayes; but fails to be a vocal player given that he’s their starting point guard. But after knowing the reason why the stud isn’t pretty much expressive of his personality in-game, because of His father, also get to know Jack’s reason why he ditched basketball, clearly shows the parallel of the two of them and what they went through with the game without family meddling causing their passion for the game.
Jack’s altercation with his starting center, Marcus Parrish (played by: Famous Viner, Melvin Gregg. Who by the way reminded me of his stint with Season 2 of American Vandal) showed Jack’s frustration when it comes to not taking the game with heart.
The hospital scene killed me, it was really depressing and pivotal to the story of why Jack hit rock bottom. Imagine Jack had to go through two all-time lows, which made alcohol his coping mechanism.
It was frustrating to get less basketball scenes, but it made sense ‘cause it wanted to prioritize the drama POV of Jack. But, nonetheless it was a great movie. Ben showed one of his best performances in this film.
His redemption arc in the story was satisfying for us, even though he was let go of his coaching duties it took him in a path to fix his life and compensate for his bad decisions and life with regrets.
I gave this film a 9/10. Great flick.
PS: It's my first review, I'm trying to be a critique. So, do take this with a grain of salt. I'm open for criticism and need tons of advice.
A typical sports drama where the sports takes a backseat to the drama. Ben Affleck is very good and gives one of his best performances. The plot is a little sappy at times but is good for the most part.
Shout by Kevin SocialBlockedParent2020-04-15T21:35:12Z
Some might think my rating is too high, but honestly, this film hit my feels hard and knowing Ben Affleck's past makes me love it even more as you can see the passion he has for the role. Was a really inspirational film in my opinion and is a must-watch for 2020.