Tagged: Ben Affleck

30May

[FILM REVIEW] The Way Back Review (2020)

Posted in Drama, Film, Film Genre, Home Page, Sport | Leave a comment

 

Summary: A former superstar High School basketballer is asked to return years later to coach the team that are now perennial cellar dwellers. In order to be any use to the team though he must try to overcome his alcoholism.

Year: 2020

Australian Cinema Release Date: 5th March 2020

Thailand Cinema Release Date: TBA

Australian DVD Release Date: 30th May 2020

Country: United States

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Screenwriter: Brad Ingelsby

Cast: April Adams (Betty), Ben Affleck (Jack), Justice Alan (David), Tom Archdeacon (Ethan), John Aylward (Father Edward Devine), Yennifer Behrens (Sofia), Chris Bruno (Sal), Rachael Carpani (Diane), T.K. Carter (Russ), Nancy Linehan Charles (Anne), Da’Vinchi (Devon Childress), Nico David (Ryan), Marlene Forte (Gale), Janina Gavankar (Angela), Matthew Glave (Coach Lombardo), Ememia Golfieri (Sarah), Layla Golfieri (Sarah), Melvin Gregg (Marcus Parrish), Cynthia Rose Hall (Nancy), Chieko Hidaka (Haley), Ben Irving (Bobby Freeze), Dan Lauria (Gerry Norris), Charles Lott Jnr. (Chubbs Hendricks), Hayes MacArthur (Eric), Al Madrigal (Dan), Chad Mountain (Pat),  Edelyn Okano (Denise), Jeremy Radin (Father Mark Whelan), Jeremy Ratchford (Matty), Will Ropp (Kenny Dawes), Shay Roundtree (Ken), Todd Stashwick (Kurt), Jayne Taini (Susan Norris), Eric Tate (Sully), Glynn Turman (Doc), Fernando Luis Vega (Sam Garcia), Sal Velez Jnr. (Miguel), Michaela Watkins (Beth), Brandon Wilson (Brandon Durrett)

Running Time: 108 mins

Classification: M (Australia)

 

 

OUR THE WAY BACK REVIEWS & RATINGS:

 

Dave Griffiths’ The Way Back Review:

The Way Back should have been a straight up slam dunk to be one of my favourite films of this year. It had so many things that I enjoy in its corner – there is the fact that I adore sports movies such as Varsity Blues and Coach Carter and then there is the Ben Affleck factor. Yes, I am a huge Affleck fan and have been ever since I fell in love with Kevin Smith’s movies way back in High School.

But there is something that majorly goes wrong with The Way Back and that thing made me feel like I was driving a sports car but unable to get out of second gear. The most disappointing thing about all of that though is it is an error that I feel could easily have been solved with a simple re-write of the script.

At the very heart of The Way Back is a film that could easily have been an Oscar winner. Affleck (Argo) plays Jack Cunningham a man whose life reads like a character from a Bruce Springsteen song. During High School he was a basketball phenomenon and it seemed like his history was written in the stars – he was going to be one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Flash-forward a couple of decades and Jack is now a faded man who works hard and drinks himself into oblivion every night.

Jack is given a shot at redemption though when the Headmaster at the Catholic school he attended, Father Devine (John Aylward – North Country,) contacts him and asks him to take over the coaching duties of the school’s basketball team – a team that now dwindles at the bottom of the league and is largely known as a laughing stock to the teams they play against. Despite a lot of hesitation Jack accepts the role and while the skills are still there so is his alcoholism and his resentment of the world that causes outbursts and chronic swearing that worries Father Mark Whelan (Jeremy Radin – Shark Week) who is charged with watching over the team and Jack.

The Way Back should have left me on the same emotional high that Coach Carter left me on years ago. The difference is that with Coach Carter the film was filled with inspiring speeches by Samuel L. Jackson while the writer gave us, the audience, an opportunity to get to know the kids on the team. They were all given characterisation and the result was we all cared about them.

With The Way Back we never get that opportunity. Yes we are introduced to characters like Marcus (Melvin Gregg – Snowfall) and Brandon (Brandon Wilson – Beyond The Lights) but we are never given an in-depth introduction into what makes them the way they are until it is much too late. The result is for the most part I just saw them as teenagers with a bad attitude who were wasting their God given talent.

I felt it was the same for Jack as a character as well. I am sure that screenwriter Brad Ingelsby (Run All Night) thought it was cute and artistic the way he kept the true story of Jack’s secret from the audience, but to me it felt like the major flaw of the film. Most of the time I was frustrated that Jack was passing up the great opportunities that life had given him in order to simply just get drunk each night. That frustration would have been eliminated if he had given us glimpses of the emotional issues that made Jack the way he was instead of holding those cards close to heart before finally springing them on the audience.

The one thing that does save The Way Back and makes it worth a second viewing is the acting performance of one Mr. Affleck. I am not just saying this as a devoted Affleck fan, but he is in Oscar winning form here. He is totally believable as a former sports star who has hit rock bottom and he delivers some truly emotional scenes that do have an effect on you as you are watching them. Many actors would struggle to deliver the pure emotion that he can generate in a scene on his own fuelled by drunken outbursts but his work here was enough to cause a tear to well up in my eyes more than once. Affleck of course knew why his character was the way he was… we sadly didn’t.

I really got the feeling throughout the film that with Affleck in this kind of form this film could have Oscar-winner written all over it if only a few minor re-writes had occurred in order to make me care more about some of the characters at hand. This is one I will certainly re-visit though just to see Affleck deliver a full lesson in character acting.

 

 

 

Average Subculture Rating:

 

 

IMDB Rating:  The Way Back (2020) on IMDb

 

Other Subculture Entertainment The Way Back Reviews: N/A

Trailer:

23Sep

[FILM NEWS] Cavalcade Of Stars Appear In CINEMABILITY

Posted in Documentary, Film, Film News, Home Page, News | Leave a comment

A cavalcade of stars, including superstars Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Marlee Matlin, Gary Sinise, Jane Seymour, William H.Macy and Geena Davis, feature in CinemAbility : The Art of Inclusion, releasing October 5 on digital from Leomark Studios.

From Director Jenni Gold, the 1st wheelchair using female in the Director’s Guild, and released to coincide with October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month,CinemAbility reveals a compelling and often amusing look at the history of disability portrayals in entertainment. From the early days of silent films to present-day Hollywood blockbusters, this historic film takes a detailed look at the evolution of “disability” in entertainment over the last 120 years by going behind the scenes to interview celebrities, filmmakers, and studio executives.

With heart and humor, CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion utilizes clips from Hollywood’s most beloved motion pictures and television programs to shine a light on how the media impacts society and the  monumental effect  these  portrayals  have  on  inclusion.

Featuring Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, Marlee Matlin, Gary Sinise, Jane Seymour, Adam Arkin, William H.Macy, Helen Hunt, Kyle MacLachlan, Daryl Mitchell, Beau Bridges, Richard Donner, Peter Farrelly, Randal Kleiser and many more!

CinemAbility : The Art of Inclusion, written by  Jenni Gold and Samuel W. Reed, releases on VOD October 5 from Leomark Studios.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
CinemAbility is in part a love letter to Hollywood, an industry that has consumed my life, and partly a wake-up call. Growing up as a wheelchair user I found many of the representations of people with disabilities on screen to be confusing. I remember every year my family would watch Affair to Remember when it aired on TV and I always found it odd that after Deborah Kerr became a wheelchair user she could no longer pursue the man she loved. I remember hating the sappy Movie of the Week style representations in the 70’s and 80’s. The person in the wheelchair was always syrupy sweet or angry and bitter. It wasn’t until Friday the 13th part 2 came out that I saw a wheelchair user the way I wanted to be seen. He was a cool teenager hanging out in the cabin in the woods just like everyone else, he had a girlfriend just like everyone else, and right before he was about to have the night of his life, he got killed by Jason, just like everyone else. His disability was not the topic and was not a factor in his story line.
As a filmmaker who loves the rich history of Hollywood, I realized that a historical overview of disability portrayals had never been done, and that’s certainly one of the aspects of the project that drew me in. It was fresh and exciting, but as we continued to research and interview more people about their recollections of disability portrayals in film it became clear that this was not the whole story. There was more behind these characters and depictions than the stereotypes that emerged, which in some instances are still adhered to. In fact, what we found was much richer, in that there is a strong correlation between these depictions and how people with disabilities are treated, and as portrayals have become more well-rounded and realistic, actual people with disabilities have become more accepted socially, and more integrated into society.
Being a director with a disability and the only DGA wheelchair using director member, the last thing I wanted to do was make another cookie-cutter documentary about disability. But soon I realized that a film like CinemAbility must be made, and if not by me then who? I knew this story first hand and I knew how to tell it.  So, slowly I started to pitch it and soon I was interviewing A-List Academy Award Winners, Academy of Motion Picture and Guild Presidents, Producers, Studio Executives and the Showrunners of some of the hottest shows on TV.  Hollywood heavyweights came to  the forefront because these are caring people who are interested in good causes, and they realize inclusion is important. They all had something viable and important to say and even had some personal realizations that I caught on camera.
By connecting the dots between how people with disabilities are portrayed and how they are perceived in public, we were able to broaden the story beyond disability, to any minority group that has at one time or other been underrepresented or misrepresented in our media. We show how Sydney Poitier films impacted an entire Civil Rights Movement and how Will & Grace opened the door for homosexual civil rights. But  where did that leave people with disabilities.
I found out very quickly that the changing of portrayals of disabilities in the 80’s lead us toward a major victory in 1990 with the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but after a backslide in these depictions, we might be able to get into the building, but what was the perception of people like me once we were in it? Would there be job opportunities if perceptions were still based on the understanding one gets from what we see in the media?
It suddenly became clear to me that this film was much more important than just recapping the history of a few interesting characters in the history of film, but about documenting the shaping of perceptions of minority groups through the media. And in doing so, I created a platform to do some reshaping of my own. This film has the ability to break down these stereotypes in a way that had never been done before. And most importantly it is done in a fun and entertaining way! People normally hear about a disability-themed documentary and they run for the hills, but those brave enough to take a peek are shocked to find they have a good time and laugh while also being challenged intellectually. As a storyteller, that is my entire goal.
When we started this project over a decade ago, disability was not included in most diversity initiatives, but that is now changing due to new crop of talented, passionate & determined actors with disabilities who have stormed into Hollywood and aren’t taking “no” for an answer. Enlightened Showrunners and Producers are also starting to take chances on stories, characters, and actors that are “different,” and yet it still remains that hardly anyone with a disability is working behind the scenes in Hollywood. It seems to be the perfect time for CinemAbility to open people’s eyes to something new.
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Emmy Winner Jenni Gold is considered a triple threat in the world of entertainment. Her editing and screenwriting skills serve as a foundation for her directorial efforts which have received multiple awards and have placed her among the best in her field. As the only female wheelchair using Director Member of the Directors Guild of America, Jenni is the co-founder of Gold Pictures, Inc, a development and production company which was established in 2001.
In addition to directing the award-winning film CinemAbility, Jenni has become an expert on the power the media has in shaping perceptions, and is an advocate for total inclusion. She serves on the advisory board of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and has produced a number of films and corporate web series, servicing such well-known clients as The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Jenni recently co-produced the soon-to-be-released film Tiger starring Mickey Rourke and Janel Parrish, and she is in post on a horror/comedy film which she directed titled, Aaah Roach, starring Casper Van Dien, Grace Van Dien, Barry Bostwick, and Jason Mewes. Jenni has also co-written and is developing a number of narrative feature films including the suspense thriller Adrenaline and a family film, Lucky. Jenni was also interviewed along with many other high-powered female directors in the newly released documentary This Changes Everything about discrimination in Hollywood.

09Oct

[NEWS] JUSTICE LEAGUE Trailer Lands

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Roadshow Films have just released the brand new trailer for Justice League.

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

JUSTICE LEAGUE is directed by Zack Snyder and stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Henry Cavill, Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, J.K. Simmons.

JUSTICE LEAGUE releases in Australian cinemas on November 16, 2017.

05Nov

The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep #200

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This week on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Dave, Greg and Nick take a look at new release films ‘The Light Between The Oceans,’ ‘Crushed,’’The Age of Shadows,’ ‘The Accountant,’ ‘American Honey,’ and ‘Hacksaw Ridge’. This episode also contains an interview with Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Jon Bernthal, Firass Dirani, Ben Mingay, Roxanne Wilson, Sarah Bishop, Michael Imielski (Dead Sunrise), Sonja Griegoschewski (German Film Festival), Guy Jukes, Karl Redgen and Elmedin Kumalic (Drone Film Festival).

Thanks to Icon Distribution we also launch our brand new War On Everyone competition. The winner will receive a double pass to War On Everyone (which opens in NSW, VIC, , QLD, ACT & SA on November 17th) and a DVD pack containing a copy of Filth, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, 44 Inch Chest, Alpha Dog, Inbruges, Red and Spring Breakers. To see how to enter this brand new competition just listen to this week’s show and then send the answer to Dave’s question as a private message to either our Facebook or Twitter page.

You can listen to The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show or download it for free from our Podcast Channel – Listen/Download here.

09Sep

Live By Night Trailer Released

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Live By Night

Oscar winning director Ben Affleck (Argo) returns to the director’s seat with ‘Live By Night‘ which is based on the Denis Lehanne novel (Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River) of the same name, Affleck will direct and star as Joe Coughlin, the youngest son of a respectable Boston police captain who grows up to become an employee of the city’s most fearsome, and successful, mobsters during Prohibition-era America.

‘Live By Night’ which also stars Scott Eastwood (Fury), Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon), Sienna Miller (Foxcatcher) and Zoe Saldana (Guardians Of The Galaxy) which open in Australian cinemas in 2017.

But now thanks to Roadshow here is the Live By Night trailer.

27Jul

Comic Con Trailer Releases

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Comic Con

Well Comic Con is over for another year and once again we have seen some amazing trailers released to fans at the con. Let’s take a look at the films that trailers premiered.

 

WONDER WOMAN

Wonder WomanSummary: An Amazon princess leaves her island home to explore the world, and becomes the greatest of its heroes.

Director: Patty Jenkins

Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis

Release Date: 1st June, 2017 (Australia)

 

KONG: SKULL ISLAND

Kong Skull IslandSummary: An action/adventure story centered on King Kong’s origins.

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Johnson

Release Date: 9th March, 2017 (Australia)

 

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

The Lego Batman MovieSummary: A spin-off of The Lego Movie centering on Batman.

Director: Chris McKay

Stars: Will Arnett, Ralph Fiennes, Rosario Dawson, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Mariah Carey

Release Date: February 2017 (Australia)

 

DOCTOR STRANGE

Doctor StrangeSummary: After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant and conceited surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.

Director: Scott Derrickson

Cast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Tilda Swinton

Release Date: 27th October, 2016 (Australia)

 

KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD

King Arthur Legend Of The SwordSummary: Feature film version of the classic King Arthur story.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Eric Bana, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou

Release Date: 23rd March 2017 (Australia)

 

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find ThemSummary: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

Director: David Yates

Cast: Ezra Miller, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, Jon Voight

Release Date: 17th November 2016 (Australia)

 

THE WOODS (BLAIR WITCH)

Blair WitchSummary: After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister’s experiences in the cursed woods of the Blair Witch, Blane and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling.

Director: Adam Wingard

Cast: Corbin Reid, Wes Robinson, Valorie Curry

Release Date: September 2016 (Australia)

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE

Justice LeagueSummary: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast: Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Amber Heard, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Ezra Miller, J.K. Simmons, Jeremy Irons, Willem Dafoe

Release Date: 16th November 2017 (Australia)

24Mar

The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Ep #171

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This week on The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show Dave, Greg and Nick take a look at new release films ‘A Bigger Splash,’ ‘Batman vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice,’ ‘Eye In The Sky,’ ‘Sherpa,’ ‘Labyrinth Of Lies,’ ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,’ ‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ and ‘Our Last Tango’. This episode also contains interviews with Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Jack Black , Angelina Jolie, Luca Guadagnino, Jennifer Peedom and German Kral.

Also make sure you are listening this week for your chance to win a copy of Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans on DVD thanks to our good friends at eOne Entertainment. To win just listen to this week’s episode of The Good The Bad The Ugly Film Show, listen out for the question that Dave asks and then private message us your answers on either our Facebook or Twitter pages.

You can listen to the show or download it for free from our Podcast Channel – Listen/Download here.