The Way Back
Back in high school, Jack Cunningham had everything going for him. A basketball phenom, he could have punched his ticket to college or even the pros, but, instead, he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future. Jack's glory days are long gone...but, as it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to take back his life when he is asked to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts, surprising no one more than himself, and as the boys start to come together as a team and win, he may get his last shot at redemption.
The film underperformed commercially against its moderate budget of $23.0M, earning $14.6M globally (-37% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the drama genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Way Back (2020) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Gavin O'Connor's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jack Cunningham
Angela
Father Devine
Dan
Beth Cunningham
Main Cast & Characters
Jack Cunningham
Played by Ben Affleck
A former high school basketball star battling alcoholism who gets a chance at redemption coaching his alma mater's team.
Angela
Played by Janina Gavankar
Jack's estranged wife who still cares for him despite their separation.
Father Devine
Played by John Aylward
The priest at Bishop Hayes High School who recruits Jack to coach basketball.
Dan
Played by Al Madrigal
Jack's assistant coach and supportive colleague who helps with the team.
Beth Cunningham
Played by Michaela Watkins
Jack's sister who tries to maintain family connections and supports him through his struggles.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jack Cunningham wakes alone in a dark apartment, drinks beer in the shower. His life is a cycle of construction work and heavy drinking at the local bar.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Father Devine from Bishop Hayes High School calls Jack, offering him the position of head basketball coach at his alma mater.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Jack shows up at Bishop Hayes gym and accepts the coaching position. He steps back into the world he abandoned., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The team wins a crucial game. Jack is celebrated by students, faculty, and community. He appears to be turning his life around - a false victory, as his alcoholism remains unaddressed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jack has a violent outburst during a game, getting ejected and publicly humiliated. He goes on a destructive bender, pushing away everyone who cares about him. His "death" is the complete collapse into alcoholism., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jack reaches out to Angela and finally opens up about their son's death and his pain. He admits he needs help. This emotional breakthrough allows him to see a path forward., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Way Back's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Way Back against these established plot points, we can identify how Gavin O'Connor utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Way Back within the drama genre.
Gavin O'Connor's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Gavin O'Connor films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.4, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Way Back represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Gavin O'Connor filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Gavin O'Connor analyses, see Pride and Glory, Miracle and Warrior.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jack Cunningham wakes alone in a dark apartment, drinks beer in the shower. His life is a cycle of construction work and heavy drinking at the local bar.
Theme
A coworker asks Jack, "You ever think about going back?" Jack deflects. The theme of redemption and return is planted.
Worldbuilding
Jack's daily routine of alcoholism and isolation. We see his estranged relationship with his wife Angela, family Thanksgiving where he drinks heavily, his avoidance of his past as a high school basketball star.
Disruption
Father Devine from Bishop Hayes High School calls Jack, offering him the position of head basketball coach at his alma mater.
Resistance
Jack initially refuses, continues drinking. He attends his nephew's birthday party, sees his fractured family. He debates whether to take the coaching job, wrestling with his painful past at the school.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jack shows up at Bishop Hayes gym and accepts the coaching position. He steps back into the world he abandoned.
Mirror World
Jack meets Brandon, a talented but undisciplined player who mirrors Jack's own wasted potential. Their relationship becomes the emotional core of Jack's journey toward redemption.
Premise
Jack whips the team into shape with tough love and discipline. The team starts winning. Jack finds purpose, begins to reconnect with his estranged wife Angela. He still drinks but seems more functional.
Midpoint
The team wins a crucial game. Jack is celebrated by students, faculty, and community. He appears to be turning his life around - a false victory, as his alcoholism remains unaddressed.
Opposition
The pressure of success and proximity to his painful past intensifies Jack's drinking. He becomes increasingly volatile and erratic. His behavior during games grows more aggressive. Cracks appear in his facade.
Collapse
Jack has a violent outburst during a game, getting ejected and publicly humiliated. He goes on a destructive bender, pushing away everyone who cares about him. His "death" is the complete collapse into alcoholism.
Crisis
Jack alone in his apartment, confronting the depths of his addiction and the grief he's been avoiding - the death of his young son that destroyed his marriage and life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jack reaches out to Angela and finally opens up about their son's death and his pain. He admits he needs help. This emotional breakthrough allows him to see a path forward.
Synthesis
Jack enters rehab and begins genuine recovery. He works through his grief. He returns to coach the team in the playoffs, now sober and emotionally present. The team makes it to the championship game.
Transformation
Jack watches his team play, no longer drinking. Win or lose, he has found his way back - not to glory, but to himself. He has become the mentor and father figure he needed to be.