The Way Back

Official Australian release date: 5/3/20. Viewed: 7/3/20.

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Actors: Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Janina Gavankar, Brandon Wilson

Genre: Drama / Sport 

Rating: M

  

  

‘The Way Back’ (not to be confused with Peter Weir’s film of the same name from 2010) is a return to form for Ben Affleck, a former high school basketball prodigy who has fallen on hard times. Jack (Affleck) is a mostly-functioning alcoholic – which really hits home how it’s depicted – who is separated from wife Angela (Gavankar) and claiming all’s fine in his life.

Rather than show Jack as a young basketball star, the film starts with him at his lowest and slowly reveals what’s happened in his life over the past 5 years to change him. It gets quite touching. Jack finds a lifeline in coaching his old high school’s basketball team, with assistant coach Dan (Madrigal). They’re not quite a ragtag bunch of no-hopers, but they’re not far off – except for Brendon (Wilson). He has a nice little story arc.

After exploring why he didn’t go to college basketball/NBA, and not just focusing on the predictable winning montage, the film explores the effects of Jack’s actions on his wife, his coaching career and his friends. It’s certainly not a typical ‘Replacements’/‘Mighty Ducks’-style “sporting miracle” story, and it doesn’t necessarily have a happy or sad ending. Does well to contrast the Californian sun with the reality of some people’s lives. Worth it for Affleck’s well-balanced & semi-tortured acting.

Overall: Not overly original, but good emotional journey.  

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars. 

The Invisible Man

Official Australian release date: 27/2/20. Viewed: 3/3/20.

Director: Leigh Whannell

Actors: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, Harriet Dyer

Genre: Drama  

Rating: MA

  

  

‘The Invisible Man’ is probably about the 10^th remake of one of the original sci-fi/monster concepts, coming 87 years after the original film. Thankfully, it’s a very modern take, with no supernatural elements – just a well put together thriller. Cecilia (Moss) basically carries the film, and it starts with her escaping her controlling husband, Adrian (Jackson-Cohen), with the help of her sister, Emily (Dyer). She stays with their friend James (Hodge) and his daughter, Sydney (Reid), when she finds out that Adrian is dead.

With all apparently fine, things start to unravel, as Cecilia starts to believe Adrian is somehow stalking her from beyond the grave. Adrian’s brother, Tom (Dorman) assures Cecilia that Adrian’s dead. We’re left guessing, as we don’t get much insight into Adrian & Cecilia’s relationship or his motives, other than the fact he’s a Tony Stark-type rich inventor. This is where the idea of the invisibility coming from a high-tech suit is more plausible than supernatural powers.

After the great, almost-silent and very dark, start, the film establishes a good rhythm, until it kicks into overdrive for the final 30min or so. The tension, suspense and guessing “where is he?” throughout is handled really well, with it never getting too boring or predictable. There’s certainly a few really good jump scares! Better than ‘Hollow Man’, which I also liked, at least when it came out.

Overall: Enjoyable, suspenseful thriller re-imagining.

Gav's Rating: 4 stars.