12 Great Recent Movie Performances Destined To Be Forgotten

12. Ben Affleck - The Way Back

Many are keenly aware of Ben Affleck's unfortunately much-publicized struggles with addiction, which is why seeing his recent growth and personal rejuvenation lately has been so heartwarming. This is what makes The Way Back such a deeply personal experience to watch, especially with Ben Affleck's immensely effective performance.

Affleck plays a struggling alcoholic who finds a new sense of purpose through a high school basketball team coaching position. With the prompt shutdown of movie theaters worldwide, The Way Back found itself, like many other films, at a loss with its audience outreach. It's a shame too because it was clearly a deeply personal story for director Gavin O'Connor and Ben Affleck. That said, for those who do check it out, they'll have a wonderfully authentic leading performance to appreciate.

It's not flashy, it's not dramatic, and that's why it works so well. Affleck's fully invested in giving you a portrayal of an addict that's honest. He's not a bad person, he doesn't have constant violent outbursts, he's a man quietly killing himself and it feels like you're helplessly watching him do so. The terribly unfortunate timing of release may have shut down the movie's momentum, but hopefully, Affleck's work here doesn't get forgotten.