We’ve all seen this story before. A former blue chip basketball player fallen on hard times goes back to his alma mater to coach his old team back to the top of the league. We all know what happens along the way and we know how it will end. While The Way Back is one of those stories, it’s much, much more.

Gavin O’Connor’s The Way Back is the director’s third foray into the sports genre (the others being Miracle and Warrior). While basketball is a large part of the story, the film is best described as a character study of Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck), a former high school basketball standout who never pursued his dream of playing professionally. It isn’t immediately clear what went wrong along the way, but thanks to a clever opening montage, we know right away what Jack’s life is like. He works construction, drinks too much, lives alone, and doesn’t have a close relationship with his family. It isn’t until about 10 minutes into the movie that we find out he even played basketball.

Jack is surprised to receive a call from his high school about a vacancy for their head coaching position, and that he is at the top of their list. After a night of heavy drinking, he walks onto the gym to greet the band of misfits he will be leading on the court. Over time Jack’s love of the game bubbles to the surface and we see his competitive nature come back to true form. But, like I said, this isn’t just a movie about basketball. Jack’s alcoholism and the reason for his isolation takes center stage in what we learn is the hardest thing Jack has ever endure. Even harder than giving up the sport he loved his whole life.

Affleck’s turn as the struggling coach is subdued yet compelling. Off the court he is quiet, cautious, and walks like a man who has been haunted by his past for too long. On the court we see the competitor come to life as he berates the refs over bad calls and motivates his players to be tougher. Having been around a lot of different coaching styles myself, it’s clear that Affleck either has experience of his own with coaches like this, or did a great job researching. I went into this film expecting to see a lot of basketball, which is there, but I left wanting to know more about Cunningham and his past.

I can’t think of another actor who tackled such a personal issue almost immediately after confronting it in his own life. Affleck’s approach to playing an alcoholic, since he is one himself, must have been a tricky one to figure out. How much of what we are seeing on screen is Jack Cunningham and how much is Ben Affleck? I’m not sure what the answer is, but there is plenty of material to dissect. The film relies almost entirely on his performance, but he gets quality support from Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, and Michaela Watkins.

What I really liked about this film is that there is something for everyone. For the basketball fan there is great on the court action and quality terminology used throughout the film. And for those not watching for the thrill of the sport, the majority of the story takes place away from the court where he converses with his players, assistant coach, and estranged family. It’s a delicate balance that O’Connor perfected with Warrior back in 2011, a film I highly recommend everyone watches (even for non-MMA fans like myself).

So when you’re looking for something to watch during these trying times, give The Way Back a chance. It’s a movie with a lot of heart that will hopefully help you forget your own troubles for 108 minutes. It’s currently available for purchase on several platforms including Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, and Google Play.

Dan Withrow graduated from DHS in 2007 as class president, a three sport captain, and the Arts and Entertainment Editor of the Dedham Mirror. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Film/TV Production and a two year captain of the Men's Track and Field team. He is currently an editor/videographer in Boston. He loves spending time with his family, cooking, and watching as many movies as he can.