Review of Manchester by the Sea (2016) by Patrick L — 29 Jan 2017

"Kenneth Lonergan's heart-wrenching drama is one of the best movies of 2016".

Movie Review: Manchester by the Sea.

Date Viewed: December 12 2016.

Written and Directed By Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count On Me and Margaret).

Starring: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Lucas Hedges, Kyle Chandler, Gretchen Mol, C.J. Wilson, Kara Hayward, Tate Donovan, Erica McDermott, Matthew Broderick and Heather Burns.

"Manchester by the Sea" is a heart-wrenching drama that's for sure going to have a shower of nominations during awards season. Casey Affleck gives the most heart-breaking performance of the year as a brooding loner who gets dragged into caring for his teenage nephew after his brother dies from a heart attack. 2016 has been a depressing year for movies but "Manchester by the Sea" shines itself as a remarkable acting piece for Affleck and Michelle Williams who has never been better.

If you were wondering about this movie, yes it is indeed sad but the sadness in "Manchester by the Sea" is compellingly deep and graceful. It is one of the best movies of 2016. Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a quiet Boston native who works as a janitor. After he gets reprimanded for swearing at a female tenant and getting into a fight with two men at a bar, Lee receives a call from family friend, George (C.J. Wilson) that his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler) is in the hospital after falling off from his boat and getting into cardiac arrest.

Lee heads to the hospital immediately but he is too late, Joe passed away an hour earlier. Lee becomes the temporarily guardian for Joe's 16-year-son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges) who plays on the hockey team and has two girlfriends. Lee and Patrick are now distant from each other which is very contrast to their relationship when Pat was a kid. Lee meets with Joe's lawyer to discuss the custody arrangements and Joe's will and he is shocked to learn that Joe has given him the guardianship of Patrick and he doesn't think he's up to the task.

This shocking revelation opens up painful memories from Lee's past. He was previously married to Randi (Williams) and they raised two young daughters and an infant son together. One night while Lee was returning home after a bit of grocery shopping, tragedy struck him as his house became engulfed in flames which resulted in the deaths of his three children and Lee attempting to kill himself at the police station soon after. Lee and Randi got divorced after their unspeakable tragedy and he becomes doubtful about raising a teenager.

Lee is faced with a difficult decision, either stay in Manchester and be Patrick's parental guardian or go back to Boston where Patrick will be forced to uproot his life. In one of the movies most heart-wrenching scenes, Lee runs into Randi who has a newborn child and is engaged to a devoted Christian and she expresses regret over the harsh and painful manner she treated him after the loss of their three children. Instead of comforting Randi for her remorse, Lee abruptly walks off because he doesn't want to think about the past anymore, he just wants to move on.

"Manchester by the Sea" is a tremendous achievement for writer and director Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count On Me and Margaret) and newcomer Lucas Hedges is terrific as the nephew who can't relate to his uncle and he resents him for continuing to work as a janitor in Boston. Even though her role is limited, Michelle Williams is equal to the task as Lee's remorse-filled ex-wife. Casey Affleck is without a doubt the top contender to win Best Actor at the Oscars next February. Affleck is remarkable as Lee and he creates a character who is multi-layered and complex in a lot of ways.

With all of these billion-dollar blockbusters crashing at us almost every week now these days, it's really refreshing to see a movie that connects with you instead of connecting to your junk food senses. "Manchester by the Sea" is a precious gem that must be looked at in as many theaters as possible.