3 Stars — Thought-provoking
In “The Way Back,” the power of alcohol to slowly deaden our senses and kill our souls could not be more powerfully presented.
Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck), a star basketball player in high school who could have played Division 1 ball, is lost. He’s lost not only within the dark enabling of a small neighborhood bar, but lost within his own family and soul. Attending a Catholic high school and loved by a beautiful wife named Angela (Janina Gavankar), it would be easy to assume that Cunningham has the resources needed to face anything that might happen in life. But this is not so — at least not without humility.
The pain that drove Cunningham into alcoholism is understandable. Some losses are so great that healing is both avoided and detested. But the path such an avoidance takes us is one in which it is virtually impossible to find our way back. Not only is the way hidden to us by our pain, but those who could guide us are actively rejected.
That is the story told by Gavin O’Connor, who both directed and wrote in partnership with Brad Ingelsby. It is a story told with such authenticity that it is easy to think it is based on a true story. But it is not. It is simply the story of many.
We won’t spoil the tale except to note that there are some emotions that can destroy us if we succumb to their temptation. Anger is one such emotion. Often surrendering to its mesmerizing attraction, the anger itself quickly becomes an addiction with a horrifying price tag. Gnawing on the hurt like a dog on its bone, the strength of our bite only becomes stronger, causing us to bite at those around us until they retreat in fear and self-protection. The isolation then allows us to worship our addiction with our body, mind and soul.
We also see in this tale that the abilities God has given us become sublimated in the service of our pain such that what we could have done is sabotaged by our own self-destructive behaviors. This we see in Jack’s tremendous ability to not only play basketball but to coach young men. His skill is not only on the court but in life in general.
This is seen as he challenges the insecurity of Brandon (Brandon Wilson). Recognizing his natural ability and drive to achieve, Cunningham also sees within Brandon an intuitive understanding of how to play the game. He therefore reaches out and strategically changes Brandon’s life. We see this same ability as he confronts the fatal flaws of others of his players, whether rebelliousness, arrogance, insincerity or attention-getting. Having come face to face with his own failings Jack is able to see what is holding others back as well.
Often, life can knock us off our feet. The question is, how will we respond to these moments? Will we allow them to strengthen or destroy us? Will we become lost or find our way back?
Discussion
» It is difficult to face the loss of someone so precious to us that we know we cannot live without them. What would you have said to Jack if you had been his friend? His spouse? His bartender? His priest?
» The patience exhibited by the priests in Jack’s life portrayed a deep sense of grace. Why do you think such grace was not enough? Or was it?
» The loss of his marriage was a choice that Jack made every time he turned to the bottle instead of to Angela. How do the daily choices you make impact the directions and relationships of your life?
— Cinema in Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary. Hal Conklin is a former mayor of Santa Barbara and Denny Wayman is the retired pastor of Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara and lead superintendent of Free Methodist Church in Southern California. For more reviews, visit www.cinemainfocus.com, or follow them on Twitter: @CinemaInFocus. The opinions expressed are their own.