Sports stories often aim for redemption as their primary goal, whether on a field or off.  This film continues that tradition, yet also subverts it in an intriguing, and ultimately, very honest way.  It plays like an urban version of Hoosiers, if Shooter (Dennis Hopper) had been the head coach, if that makes any sense.  And it provides Ben Affleck with a meaty role, one which mirrors his own struggle with alcoholism.

Gavin O’Connor’s film lures construction worker Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) back to coach his former high school’s basketball team.  Jack was a great player, and he would like to be a good coach, but he is also an alcoholic.  He dedicates himself to the task and stays clean for a long time, but eventually he loses self-control, and then a whole lot more.  The team is much better because of his efforts, but it must continue on without him, as Jack finally seeks the help for himself that he so desperately needs.

This is a film about addiction, and how hard it is to break the cycles of habit and self-destruction.  It is very well enacted by Affleck, who has been very public about his own struggles with alcoholism and relapse.  Being aware of the actor’s issues gives the story greater power, but also makes it uncomfortable to watch.  The basketball scenes are good, but they really reminded me of Hoosiers and Coach Carter and other hoops films.  I think its best angle is how Jack fosters young Brandon Durrett (Brandon Wilson), a player he thinks could be great, and really pushes him to accept a leadership role on the team, even if it changes Brandon’s personality.  It’s easy to see how Brandon could become as good as Jack was — but at what cost?

Unlike Hoosiers and most other sports films, The Way Back forgoes a cathartic championship scene — or even a Rocky-esque best-shot-in-a-losing-effort finale.  This is Jack’s story, and it ends quietly, hopefully, with him taking the first steps to come to grips with the tragedies and disappointments of his life, attempting to keep trying but in a little better direction.  This time, with more people around him to help him along, Jack seems primed to put his biggest problem behind him once and for all.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  15 March 2021.