Movie Review: The Way Back

The new film, The Way Back, is and often frustrating, yet occasionally inspiring tale of redemption that meanders its way through a typical, yet clumsily told comeback story. The saving grace of the whole endeavor though is the solid work done by Ben Affleck. His work transcends the film’s shortcomings to give the film a reason to exist.

The film tells the story of former high basketball phenom Jack Cunningham (Affleck) who walked away from a college scholarship for unknown reasons, forfeiting his future. Years later, Jack works in construction accented by the alcoholism that cost him his marriage and chance at a normal life when the high school he played for comes calling with an offer to relive his glory days, this time as a coach of the team he once led to greatness. These days however, the team is far worse off. But, after reluctantly accepting the offer, Jack begins to come to terms with his own shortcomings and the other demons that have plagued him throughout his life.

As written by Brad Ingelsby, the scribe of American Woman (2018), the film moves from scene to scene in a clunky way that has been seen numerous times before in myriad better movies. There’s no dramatic heft here that doesn’t feel telegraphed from earlier scenes, and that’s a real problem in a film like this that is ostensibly about redemption and forgiving oneself. In that respect, much of the story unfolds as though it would be better suited for a “very special” Lifetime original movie or some similar sort of production.

Ben Affleck and Tyler O’Malley in “The Way Back.”

Director Gavin O’Connor, who did marvelous work with the similarly themed Miracle (2004) seems weighed down by the slog of a script that never really gets out of second gear. There are exemplary moments sprinkled throughout the film, but never enough of coalesce into a greater whole so they’re lost amidst the meandering, formulaic story.

The real redeeming quality of the entire endeavor is the work of Ben Affleck. Most notably last seen as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Justice League (2017), Affleck proves here that he was not only the best thing about that particular film, but that he does indeed have the ability to transcend a mediocre script with his heartfelt, focused portrayal of a man on a downward spiral that cannot seem to right his life, no matter what he does. Without him, the film would have no way back from the abyss of easily forgettable cinema.

Despite some formulaic storytelling and a meandering plot that often loses its way or seems a bit too difficult to believe, exemplary work from Ben Affleck in the lead role allows The Way Back to find its own way back and become a suitable addition to the canon of underdog sports films.

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Mike Tyrkus

Editor in Chief at CinemaNerdz.com

An independent filmmaker, co-writer and director of over a dozen short films, the Editor in Chief of CinemaNerdz.com has spent much of the last three decades as a writer and editor specializing in biographical and critical reference sources in literature and the cinema, beginning in February 1991 reviewing films for his college newspaper. He was a member of the Detroit Film Critics Society, as well as the group's webmaster and one-time President for over a decade until the group ceased to exist. His contributions to film criticism can be found in Magill's Cinema Annual, VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (of which he was the editor for nearly a decade until it too ceased to exist), the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, and the St. James Film Directors Encyclopedia (on which he collaborated with editor Andrew Sarris). He has also appeared on the television program Critic LEE Speaking alongside Lee Thomas of FOX2 and Adam Graham, of The Detroit News. He currently lives in the Detroit area with his wife and their dogs.

@miketyrkus

Mike Tyrkus

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