they’re going to be heartened when he starts
caring about the basketball team. Of course
they’re going to cheer when he wins and sigh at
his inevitable slip-ups.
Or perhaps that’s too cynical. “The Way Back”
does seem to have been constructed with an
earnest spirit, and Affleck carries the film well
on his larger-than-usual shoulders, capably
showing all sides of a down-on-his-luck
alcoholic — the funny, the sweet, the explosive
and the self-destructive. It’s chilling to see the
light go on in his eyes with a drink, and the
moment when it goes out too.
“The Way Back” is a promising move forward
for a star who has always respectably skipped
between genres. Still, it’s not as compelling
as Affleck’s recent interviews about his own
struggles, interviews characterized by honesty
and specificity.
Affleck has it in him to use his personal
experiences to make a great drama, whether
writing, directing or acting, but “The Way
Back” isn’t it.
“The Way Back,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated R
by the Motion Picture Association of America for
“for language throughout including some sexual
references.” Running time: 108 minutes. Two and
a half stars out of four.
MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying
parent or adult guardian.