The Way Back (2020)
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An alcoholic construction worker attempts to find redemption by coaching the high school basketball team at his alma mater.
The story
Jack Cunningham is an alcoholic ironworker who is separated from his wife, Angela. While at Thanksgiving dinner with his family, they express concern about his habits. The next day, Jack receives a call from Father Devine at his former Catholic high school, Bishop Hayes. He asks him to coach the basketball team, as the previous coach has had a heart attack. Introduced to assistant coach and algebra teacher Dan and the team members, Jack learns that the school hasn't been in the playoffs since he was a student. Interest has waned, and there are only six varsity players.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jack Cunningham, an alcoholic ironworker separated from his wife Angela, is asked by Father Devine to coach the basketball team at his former high school, Bishop Hayes. Despite the team's lack of interest and small roster, Jack begins to earn the players' respect through strict practices. During a birthday party for a friend's son, Jack learns about the death of his own son, Michael, who died of cancer. This news, combined with memories of his son, leads Jack to protest a game and get ejected. He later reveals he turned down a scholarship to the University of Kansas because his father only valued his basketball talent. After the team wins a playoff berth, Jack's drinking worsens when he learns his friend's son David has been hospitalized with returning cancer. Jack is fired for showing up drunk to practice and later gets into a scuffle while driving drunk, resulting in him being knocked unconscious. After a period of psychotherapy and reconciling with Angela, Jack begins practicing basketball again at an outdoor court while the team dedicates their first playoff game to him.
- Original title
- Finding the Way Back
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gavin O'Connor
- Writers
- Brad Ingelsby · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ben Affleck · Jack Cunningham; Al Madrigal · Dan; Michaela Watkins · Beth; Janina Gavankar · Angela
- Genres
- sports drama
- Themes
- addiction; redemption; fatherhood
- Tone and mood
- melodramatic; compelling
- Premise and plot tags
- sports drama; high school film; alcoholism
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Affleck's performance receiving praise. However, the film suffered at the box office due to COVID-19 because it was only in theaters for two weeks.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled The Has-Been.; The film was originally scheduled to be released on October 18, 2019.; About one-third of the film was shot in the gym of Chaffey High School in Ontario, California.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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