Review of Manchester by the Sea (2016) by Johnny T — 01 Mar 2017

A daring and original film that in the middle of its drama results in frankly funny moments. Manchester by the Sea delivers affecting drama populated by full-bodied characters, marking another strong step forward for writer-director Kenneth Lonergan. Manchester by the Sea is a gracefully coarse ode to lives knocked down and if not bouncing back at least not splatting at rock bottom. There are also glimmers of humor shining all the brighter because of the darkness they cut through. One of the things that is admirable about Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea - and there are many admirable things about this quietly moving drama - is the way its initial enigma seems to need no explanation; yet, once deciphered, the film does not falter but moves only deeper into the emotional territory it charts. Each character in this movie - down to the smallest cameo by Lonergan himself - is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor. Manchester finds a way to weave together truly wrenching sequences with a clever sense of humor, and Lonergan pulls extraordinary performances from his entire cast, especially Casey Affleck. Masterfully told and beautifully acted, Manchester By The Sea is a shattering yet graceful elegy of loss and grief.

VERDICT: "High-Quality Stuff" - [Positive Reaction] This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent. (Films that are rated 3.5 or 4 stars).