Ben Affleck and director Gavin O’Connor’s upcoming film “The Way Back” seems to have been brushed aside, already, by many film fans. What was originally thought to be a contender for the 2019 awards season was delayed by Warner Bros. until March of this year and, in the eyes of many, has effectively been erased from the conversation. But as seen in the new trailer for the drama, just because “The Way Back” isn’t contending for Oscars this year doesn’t mean you should write it off completely.
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The film tells the story of a hapless, recovering alcoholic, who never got the chance to fulfill his dreams of basketball stardom after suddenly leaving the sport before his college career took off. Now, as a middle-aged, divorced man, he attempts to pick up the pieces of his life and seeks redemption as the coach of his alma mater’s team.
“The Way Back” (or as its called in the trailer below, and in certain markets, “Finding the Way Back”) stars Affleck alongside Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, Janina Gavankar, and Glynn Turman. As mentioned, the film is directed by O’Connor, who previously worked with his star on the action film “The Accountant.” However, many probably recognize O’Connor’s name from his work on films such as “Miracle” and “Warrior.”
“The Way Back” arrives in theaters on March 6.
Here’s the synopsis:
Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) once had a life filled with promise. In high school, he was a basketball phenom with a full university scholarship, when suddenly, for reasons unknown, he walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Now years later, Jack is spiralling down, triggered by an unspeakable loss, and drowning in the alcoholism that cost him his marriage and any hope for a better life. When he is asked to coach the basketball team at his alma mater, which has fallen far since his glory days, he reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself. As the boys start to come together as a team and win, Jack may have finally found a reason to confront the demons that have derailed him. But will it be enough to fill the void, heal the deep wounds of his past, and set him on the road to redemption?