Review of Manchester by the Sea (2016) by Tvjerry — 13 Dec 2016

After the death of his brother, Lee (Casey Affleck) learns that he's been named the guardian of his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges). This means moving back to his small hometown where he left painful memories behind.

This is a sensitive story with loveably gruff characters who have a hard time expressing their feelings and often hurt instead. Affleck and Hedges are powerful in their subtlety and restrained emotions.

The script by Kenneth Lonergan is intelligently crafted with eloquently mundane observations, while his authoritative direction is detached, yet sensitive (look for him in a cameo as a man on the street who berates Affleck for his lousy parenting).

This compelling drama is impressively skillful and quietly affecting.