Review of Manchester by the Sea (2016) by Mike D — 26 Feb 2017

For some reason, Massachusetts-based films tend to score highly with critics come Oscar season, and 'Manchester by the Sea' is not exception to this trend. The Kenneth Lonergan written and directed drama has been penned as one of the most depressing films in recent memory (and for good reason), but that has helped it stand out amongst an otherwise homogenous field of best picture contenders.

At the center of 'Sea' is a down-and-out facilities guy (Casey Affleck) who's forced to take care of his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges) after his brother (Kyle Chandler) dies. Affleck delivers the performance of his life, and deserves every single best actor nomination - and win - he earns. It's hard to imagine anyone else in this role who could play it to the ability that Affleck does, and for this reason, he really carries the film. Sure, Michelle Williams also plays a key part, particularly considering one of the tragic elements of the story that is revealed and explains a lot of why things are the way they are. But When all is said and done, it's the rawness and emotion that Affleck displays that makes 'Sea' what it is.

Despite the overarching sadness throughout the film, it should be noted that there are almost as many parts that warrant chuckles from viewers. Whether it's the intentionally awkward relationship between Affleck's character and Hedges', or a number of one-liners that are delivered so matter-of-factly that they are received as welcome comic relief. Perhaps some of the only criticisms of 'Sea' include the fact that many of those portrayed have infamous Boston accents when they really shouldn't in the affluent Manchester by the Sea, and the jarring use of flashbacks. While flashbacks are a usually necessary technique in filmmaking, there comes a point when if they are done too frequently or in a way that is hard to follow, they can do a disservice. While 'Sea' never gets too convoluted to follow, the use of flashbacks could have been improved.

While it is debatable whether 'Manchester by the Sea' is worthy of earning the title of best picture for 2016, it's clearly one of the strongest efforts in a long time and should be looked to as a model of how to produce a dramatic indie film that resonates with audiences.