Review of Manchester by the Sea (2016) by Linda W — 22 Apr 2017

This movie some will have to be prepared to watch. It's not a happy movie and can be hard to watch. Lee's background caused him to be depressed and withdraw from close relationships for the most part.

So the movie can be very sad and some may find it depressing. When his brother dies, he's put in an awkward situation when he finds out his brother wanted him to be guardian for his teenage nephew.

Given he's never really dealt with his own grief and guilt from a tragedy that happened in his past, that seems impossible to him. He manages to arrange his brother's services somehow, but dealing with his nephew isn't something he's prepared for.

He has flashbacks to years ago often in this movie and you don't always know the flashback is starting or ending. The musical soundtrack is too loud, as if make up up for the relative lack of enough meaningful dialogue in the movie.

Lee and the nephew talk, but not enough to truly bridge the gap.Dealing with deep feelings isn't something Lee does well, so don't expect much of the ending...it doesn't get better in this movie.

Good acting, I guess, in a repressed sort of way. But itt wasn't a story I would have chosen to watch if I had known what it was like..