Why It Ranks
The Way Back is Affleck's most emotionally honest performance, informed by his real-life struggles. O'Connor proves once again he is the best director of sports dramas working today. The basketball sequences serve the character rather than the other way around.
The Film
The Way Back is the most personal sports film of the 2020s — Ben Affleck plays an alcoholic former basketball star who takes over coaching his alma mater's struggling team. Affleck draws on his own public battles with addiction, and the result is a performance of raw vulnerability. Gavin O'Connor (Warrior, Miracle) directs with patience, understanding that the real game is not on the court but in the daily battle against the bottle.
Fun Facts
Ben Affleck has spoken publicly about how the role mirrored his own recovery from alcoholism.
The film was released just before COVID-19 shut down theaters, significantly impacting its box office.
Director Gavin O'Connor also directed Warrior (#25) and Miracle (#20) on this list.
The basketball team was played by real high school players from the Los Angeles area.
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