The Way Back (2020) marks a positive shift for Ben Affleck after a period where his career felt adrift—particularly due to his involvement in the DC Universe films. Gavin O'Connor directs this drama, scripted by Brad Ingelsby (who also contributed to the strong film Out of the Furnace), and it features Affleck as Jack Cunningham, once a promising high school basketball player now working construction and struggling with alcoholism, who is persuaded to coach at his former school. How do we know about the drinking? Well, having beer in the shower isn't exactly reassuring—and there are other signs—but largely it’s Affleck himself, who embodies the role completely; he looks, sounds, and essentially becomes the character, delivering a performance that feels like an emotional release. A significant portion of the movie intentionally follows the familiar formula of countless high school basketball films. It's handled skillfully, demonstrating understanding and enjoyment of the sport, and there’s some humor present, but it ultimately feels secondary; the script builds toward a final buzzer-beating shot that transitions into a frozen image of Jack’s celebratory expression. The story echoes elements from various Hollywood melodramas—it is essentially borrowing from them—but The Way Back isn't, despite what websites like All Movie or IMDb might suggest, primarily about sports. It’s not centered on basketball in the way Hoosiers is, nor does it focus on inner-city youth as Coach Carter did; the scenes of gameplay and interactions between players are well-executed and written with energy, but they don't offer anything particularly new—aside from the amusing pairing of the outspoken coach with the Catholic high school’s “team chaplain”—and exist only to illustrate a point, which is made effectively. This streamlined storytelling serves a deeper exploration of Jack’s character, where the filmmakers have invested considerable thought and effort. It's about a man who appears to drink simply to get drunk, then slowly reveals the reasons behind his alcoholism and its effects. The idea that reaching one’s lowest point can begin the journey toward healing is central; basketball becomes the tool used to lift Jack up, push him further down, and eventually bring him back.

Source on TMDB