The Way Back

Name: The Way Back
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: March 6, 2020
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Al Madrigal, Ben Affleck, Ben Irving, Brandon Wilson, Caleb Thomas

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 107 Ratings

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The Way Back

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: March 6, 2020 | R

Starring: Al Madrigal, Ben Affleck, Ben Irving, Brandon Wilson, Caleb Thomas, Charles Lott Jr., Chris Bruno, Christina Sergoyan, Christine Horn, Da'Vinchi, Emelia Golfieri, Fernando Luis Vega, Glynn Turman, Hayes MacArthur, Inka Kytö, James P. Harkins, Janina Gavankar, Jayne Taini, Lukas Gage, Marlene Forté, Matthew Glave, Melvin Gregg, Michaela Watkins, Rachael Carpani, T.K. Carter, Todd Stashwick, Will Ropp

Summary: Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) once had a life filled with promise. In high school, he was a basketball phenom with a full university scholarship, when suddenly, for reasons unknown, he walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Now years later, Jack is spiraling down, triggered by an unspeakable loss, and drowning in the alcoholismJack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) once had a life filled with promise. In high school, he was a basketball phenom with a full university scholarship, when suddenly, for reasons unknown, he walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Now years later, Jack is spiraling down, triggered by an unspeakable loss, and drowning in the alcoholism that cost him his marriage and any hope for a better life. When he is asked to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, which has fallen far since his glory days, he reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself. As the boys start to come together as a team and win, Jack may have finally found a reason to confront the demons that have derailed him. But will it be enough to fill the void, heal the deep wounds of his past, and set him on the road to redemption? … Expand

Director: Gavin O'Connor

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

100

G. Allen Johnson

Mar 6, 2020

Director and co-writer/producer Gavin O’Connor’s meticulous drama feels authentic all the way around. The basketball feels real. The high school kids seem real. Jack’s relationship with his estranged wife Angela (Janina Gavankar) is very believable. Read full review

The Film Stage Jake Kring-Schreifels

Mar 4, 2020

The Way Back shares those convictions and themes, but its greatest asset is its honesty. Read full review

Rex Reed

Mar 6, 2020

The plot may be formulaic, but there’s nothing predictable about Ben Affleck’s commitment to the role of Jack, or the subtlety and sincerity with which he plays it. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

Mar 6, 2020

Movies like this one are just looking for an audience with whom they’ll resonate. And the seriousness of The Way Back — its unwillingness to take the easy road, and Affleck’s total commitment to letting his personal rawness inform performed pain — should ensure those audiences find what they’re looking for. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Mar 6, 2020

With The Way Back, Ben Affleck didn’t have to deliver his biggest or most attention-getting performance, simply — and simplicity is hard — his truest. Read full review

Ian Freer

Jul 9, 2020

It cleaves closely to the familiar, but Finding The Way Back scores points by finding different beats within the formula and from a great Ben Affleck performance. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jul 8, 2020

A clunking underdog/redemption sports movie with a horribly perfunctory and unconvincing script, and a ponderous, half-awake performance from the bearded and stolid Ben Affleck. Read full review

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User Reviews

tpm6565

Nov 28, 2020

Excellent movie with a great story and wonderful acting. I believe this movie likely appeals more to a mature audience with some life experience behind them. A younger or perhaps less mature audience may not appreciate this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AWESOM-0

May 14, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a very good movie and Ben Affleck gives a great performance. I like that they didn't end it where it seemed to be the end and they put in that last part. It made it much more real and emotionally powerful.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GreatMartin

Mar 10, 2020

"The Way Back" is the kind of movie people are talking about when they say 'They don't make them the way they used to' (without the cursing!)

Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) was the star of his basketball team in high school but now is an alcoholic who never met his promise afterward. He is a"The Way Back" is the kind of movie people are talking about when they say 'They don't make them the way they used to' (without the cursing!)

Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) was the star of his basketball team in high school but now is an alcoholic who never met his promise afterward. He is a construction worker who drinks vodka from a thermos on the job, stops at the bar on the way home, has a beer in the shower and goes through a case during an evening at home.

For no reason that I could understand he is offered the job of head coach at his former high school where the team has been a loser in the 2 decades since he played there. Of course, there is(n't) a solid reason the assistant coach can't take over the position except to help Cunningham redeem himself.

What happens from this point on should be known to anyone who has watched movies, oh say, the last 20 years so I'll leave that alone.

This movie is a cut above others like it because of a smart script by Brad Ingelsby matched by the direction by Gavin O'Connor and the photography of Eduard Grau but by another factor that won't be avoided by anyone.

Ben Afflick gives a strong performance of what is causing his pain and how he tries to stop the hurting. Is he acting or is he just playing the actor that we have read in all the news stories and Internet media? It doesn't make a difference as this is one of Afflick's best performances and raises "The Way Back" above other films in this genre.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

movielover28

Jul 12, 2020

It is more than a basketball movie, but more of a drama of alcohol abuse, which isn't really what I was expecting from this. Best movie of 2020 so far.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

3ebfan511

Jun 11, 2021

It's a good performance by Affleck, but the dialogue is pretty basic, and it is very, very, slow paced. Its like a sports movie if you took an anti-depressant and got drunk. Its not bad, and anyone who has struggled with alcoholism personally or indirectly could probably appreciate theIt's a good performance by Affleck, but the dialogue is pretty basic, and it is very, very, slow paced. Its like a sports movie if you took an anti-depressant and got drunk. Its not bad, and anyone who has struggled with alcoholism personally or indirectly could probably appreciate the acting and story, but the pacing and writing leaves it as just a so-so film to watch. Its more of a slow moving drama than an expected sports movie, and a very heavy and somewhat depressing one at that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Feb 12, 2021

As redemption-through-sports movies go, this by-the-numbers basketball melodrama is about as predictable and cliched as they come. This earnestly solemn saga of a baggage-laden, alcoholic former high school basketball star seeking to turn his life around is so rote that virtually any viewerAs redemption-through-sports movies go, this by-the-numbers basketball melodrama is about as predictable and cliched as they come. This earnestly solemn saga of a baggage-laden, alcoholic former high school basketball star seeking to turn his life around is so rote that virtually any viewer could have penned its formulaic script. In fact, were it not for the surprisingly strong Critics Choice Award-nominated performance of protagonist Ben Affleck, director Gavin O'Connor's latest would be otherwise virtually forgettable. There are many far better movies about sports underdogs, miraculous comebacks and the plight of addiction out there that would make superior viewing choices; all one needs to do is pick one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jp117

Mar 7, 2020

He really is the worst Batman and he can’t even play a simple basketball coach..... sad the guy simply can’t act only people seeing this is his Snyder cut buddies anyway garbage film.

6 of 19 users found this helpful613

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