Ben Affleck finds his way back by baring his soul about alcoholism

(Reuters) – Ben Affleck’s new film “The Way Back” finds the actor participating in a part he appreciates only too nicely – an alcoholic who goes through relatives strife and divorce ahead of discovering renewed hope in life.

Immediately after baring his soul about his own struggles with alcoholic beverages, his three outings to rehab and the significantly publicized collapse of his relationship to actress Jennifer Garner, Affleck also finds himself in the unforeseen part of a spokesman for habit.

“I was a minor little bit shocked that the degree to which my currently being a recovering alcoholic, and I’m participating in a person in this film, affected individuals,” Affleck, 47, said.

“I’m delighted. There is nothing heroic about it (but) it’s possible it is helpful for individuals to see that its not the conclusion,” he said.

“The Way Back”, opening in U.S. film theaters on Friday, is successful Affleck some of his most effective opinions immediately after a series of commonly-panned performances as Batman that adopted his film “Argo” successful the most effective picture Oscar in 2013.

In the movie, Affleck plays a previous basketball player, who has fallen on difficult situations and is an alcoholic but is supplied a opportunity at redemption when he’s asked to coach a workforce at his old high school.

Rolling Stone journal said Affleck “brings his acting A-game” to the part while pop culture web-site Vulture said it “suggests the most intriguing stretch of Affleck’s job as an actor is still to appear.”

“The possible for a film like this is to seriously inspire someone,” said Affleck, who also developed the movie. “My target with this was to make some thing that would experience enduring and long lasting.”

Director Gavin O’Connor said that he let Affleck roll with his thoughts throughout filming.

“There was a person distinct get exactly where it was an avalanche. It was seriously highly effective,” O’Connor said. “It really did not conclusion up in the film because I imagine it may possibly have been too significantly for an audience to have to working experience with him.”

Affleck said he did not set out to be a spokesman for habit. “It’s not why I bought into this business,” he said. “But I don’t brain currently being an instance of some thing that I learned which is seriously meaningful to me, and that difficult situations don’t previous eternally.”