Who doesn't love a good sports movie? They generally follow a formula, feature great training montages and are filled with inspirational quotes.
And while The Way Back does follow a basketball coach and his unsuccessful team, it's not really a sports film in the traditional sense.
Rather, it's a personal drama following Ben Affleck's character, Jack Cunningham.
Jack was a high school basketball prodigy, a shining light in the sport, but personal demons got in his way and prevented him from capitalising on his skill.
The movie picks up with Jack in a sorry state of affairs. He spends his days drinking and isolating himself from others.
An unexpected job offer from the priest at his former Catholic school to come back and coach the failing squad picks him up from the bottom of the bottle and gives his life new meaning.
The Way Back follows a very predictable, formulaic structure but how it manages to rise above that is its true success. Rating: 7.5/10
