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The Way Back (2010) Review

It wanders home eventually

  • Chris Carter Chris Carter
  • March 11, 2020
  • 2 Minute Read
The Way Back (2010) Review 1
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Score: 7.5 / 10

I’m squarely in Ben Affleck’s corner when it comes to an assessment of talent. He might not make the right moves all the time, but he can clearly knock it out of the park when he really wants to.

While The Way Back couldn’t be considered a home run in just about any sense, the combination of a heartfelt performance from Affleck and a commitment to the story from director Gavin O’Connor mesh together to form a chimera of a drama that should leave most people satisfied.

To call The Way Back a “sports film” would be a bit of a misnomer. Make no mistake, there are sports involved (one of the main plotlines
involves Affleck’s character, Jack Cunningham, coaching a basketball team for his former high school), but the focus is clearly on Cunningham himself, and his trials and tribulations: specifically, his bout with alcohol. Affleck has clearly put all of his effort into this role, and he embodies that nuance.

While the script does stray into melodrama on occasion, many story beats hit very close to home and will demand an emotional reaction. Affleck has that magic touch when it comes to playing the duality of an affectionate caring and charismatic human being alongside of a very scary tortured soul. He is the beating heart of this film.

The Way Back (2020) Review 2

Final Thoughts:

Gavin O’Connor’s emotional sporty touch is enough to turn The Way Back from water into mid-grade wine.
Chris Carter

Chris Carter

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The Way Back (2010) Review 2

The Way Back

Director(s): Peter Weir
Cast: Dragos Bucur, Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Alexandru Potocean
Running Time: 133 min

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