I have to say that I was surprised by how much I liked "The Way Back." It's true that sometimes the movie follows formula and is a bit predictable here and here. But those minor problems are outweighed by the engaging story, rich characters, and fantastic central performance from Ben Affleck. I have to confess that I once disliked Affleck as an actor. To me, he lacked the charisma that made his regular co-star and real life friend Matt Damon so magnetic. But "The Town," "Argo," and "Gone Girl" convinced me that Affleck is indeed a talented performer when given the right script. "The Way Back" shows that not only is Affleck capable, but he can give a truly Oscar-worthy performance. This is probably because "The Way Back" seems to be based on Affleck's own recent life experiences with divorce, alcoholism, and career letdowns. As washed up basketball player Jack Cunningham, Affleck gives the most riveting performance I've seen all year. From beginning to end, Affleck's raw vulnerability carries the movie and made me heavily invested in his sometimes painful life story. I won't give anything away, but "The Way Back" left me deeply moved. The movie deals honestly with real world issues like addiction and trauma in a manner that few movies do. The supporting cast, mostly made up of non-white teenagers, also does a fantastic job of portraying an ethnically diverse basketball team struggling to overcome their losing streak despite overwhelming odds. I found the characters so relatable and compelling that the the movie's ending, which I won't give away, left me wanting more - and in a good way. I highly recommend "The Way Back." 8/10.
Review of The Way Back
